The Valley Diary
Summer 2027
Six things worth leaving The Scullery for:
July and August in and around the valley.
Wild swimming with Tweed Valley Wilding — through the summer
Guided wild swims in the River Tweed with a qualified wild-swim guide, running through July and August. There are gentle morning pool swims and longer evening saunter-and-swims, with guidance on reading the river and swimming safely. The loveliest possible way to cool off on a warm Borders evening. Booking required; see the Go Tweed Valley events page for dates.
St Ronan’s Games, Innerleithen — 11 to 18 July
Instituted in 1827, the oldest organised sports meeting in Scotland, and the centrepiece of an eight-day festival in Innerleithen. The mysterious Cleikum Ceremonies recall the town’s patron saint, St Ronan, who is said to have fought the Devil himself and driven him from the town. The week ends with a torchlit procession and the Burnin’ o’ the De’il on Caerlee Hill. Strange, ancient, and wonderful.
Fringe on the Tweed — 29 July to 2 August
Brand new for 2026: a five-day festival in the heart of the Tweed Valley offering a pre-Edinburgh showcase of theatre, performance and multi-artform work. A chance to see shows before they head north to the big Fringe, in a far gentler setting and at far gentler prices.
Selkirk Gravel Classic — 8 August
A gravel-cycling event sending riders out through some of the most beautiful trails in the Borders, from the Tweed Valley into the neighbouring Yarrow and Ettrick valleys. Three distances, from a manageable 35km to a serious 65km. If you ride, bring the bike; if you don’t, the cavalcade of cyclists through the valley is a sight in itself.
Peebles Show, Cardrona — 15 August
One of the largest agricultural shows in Scotland, with a vast entry of livestock, show jumping, dog shows, nearly a hundred trade stands, and family entertainment all day. The Borders is farming country, and the summer show is where it celebrates itself. A proper day out.
Beyond Borders International Festival, Traquair — 29 to 30 August
Held in the grounds of Traquair, Scotland’s oldest inhabited house, this festival gathers writers, broadcasters, thinkers, diplomats and artists to talk about the pressing questions of the moment, alongside music, performance, film and well-being. A weekend of ideas in one of the most atmospheric settings in the country.
From The Scullery
Letters from the Scullery is a bi-monthly publication from The Scullery, a boutique one-bedroom cottage at Ladhope in the Yarrow Valley, Scottish Borders. Join the Inner Circle at the-scullery.com for early access to dates and Inner Circle rates on midweek stays.