The River Tweed, or Tweed Water ( ), is a river long that flows east across the Border region in Scotland and northern England. Tweed cloth derives its name from its association with the River Tweed. The Tweed is one of the great salmon rivers of Britain and the only river in England where an Environment Agency rod licence is not required for angling. The river generates a large income for the Borders region, attracting anglers from all around the world.
Etymology Tweed may represent an Old Brittonic name meaning "border". A doubtful proposal is that the name is derived from a non-Celtic form of the Indo-European root *teuha- meaning "swell, grow powerful".
Course
The River Tweed flows primarily through the scenic Borders region of Scotland. Eastwards from the settlements on opposing banks of Birgham and Carham it forms the historic boundary between Scotland and England.
It rises in the Lowther Hills at Tweed's Well near the rising points of the Clyde – draining northwest ( from the Tweed's Well) – and the Annan, draining south ( from the Tweed's Well).
"Annan, Tweed, and Clyde rise oot o' ae hillside" is a saying from the Border region.Orkin, David (21 April 2007). "The Tweed: Take a trip on a river flowing with history". . The Independent. East of Kelso, it becomes a section of the eastern part of the border. Entering England, its lower reaches are in Northumberland, where it enters the North Sea at Berwick-upon-Tweed. For only of its course is it purely in England, and for it forms the border between England and Scotland.
Catchment The river east of St Boswells runs through a drumlin field. It is the relic of a paleo-ice stream that flowed through the area during the last glaciation. Major towns through which the Tweed flows include Innerleithen, Peebles, Galashiels, Melrose, Kelso, Coldstream and Berwick-upon-Tweed, where it flows into the North Sea. Tweed tributaries include: Whiteadder Water Blackadder Water River Till Eden Water Teviot Water Leader Water Ettrick Water Yarrow Water Tima Water Gala Water Leithen Water Quair Water Eddleston Water Manor Water Lyne Water Holms Water
The upper parts of the catchment of the Tweed in Scotland form the area known as Tweeddale, part of which is protected as the Upper Tweeddale National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development.
Management
Despite the catchment straddling the border between Scotland and England, management of it – in terms of water quality, bio-security, and ultimately protection of the salmon of the River Tweed – is overseen by a single body, the River Tweed Commission.
River Tweed Trail In 2024 work started on the development of a walking and cycling route following the length of the river from Moffat, to Berwick-on-Tweed. The work includes new sections of path, upgrades to existing paths, bridge replacement and repairs, pedestrian road crossings, lighting and signage. The path is expected to be completed in 2028.
Gallery
See also List of Crossings of the River Tweed Anglo–Scottish border Both sides the Tweed Dryhthelm List of places in the Scottish Borders List of rivers of the United Kingdom Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland
Notes
References
External links
British Waterways: River Tweed The River Tweed Commission website The Tweed Foundation Tweed Forum website River Tweed: Special Area of Conservation (SAC) SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency): River Level Data River Tweed map Gazetteer for Scotland: River Tweed Paper describing palaeo-icestream and landforms in the Tweed Valley Map and aerial photo sources for and Open Canoe Hire Specialists