See &Do Along the route

History and heritage. Activity and adventure. Arts and culture. Discover much more than cycling along the Tweed Valley stage of the Tour

The peleton may fly past in the blink of an eye, but the valley has an enduring appeal – with plenty to keep everyone busy before and after the men’s Tour de France 2027.

Innerleithen

The TdF enters the Tweed Valley just north of Innerleithen on the famous ‘Granites’ road. The old mill town is widely celebrated for its mountain biking scene, but paddlers are also attracted to the area for adventures along the River Tweed. The section of the Tweed Valley Canoe Trail running from Peebles to Innerleithen is suitable for paddlers of all abilities and an excellent way to experience one of Scotland’s great rivers. Prefer to be in the water than on it? It’s hard to beat a wild swim in the pools that form where the River Leithen meets the mighty Tweed.

There are hill walks and riverside rambles at every turn too. Leithen Water & Pirn Wood is a local classic taking in a lively fish ladder and the Mill Lade Trail; and for those with more energy to burn, the hike from Traquair to Minch Moor via a section of the Southern Upland Way rewards with impressive views for miles on a clear day. Less arduous but equally impressive is Pirn Hill – the site of two Iron Age hill forts and an imposing circle of cairns topped with carved sandstone tablets that proudly depict the town’s history and heritage. And it’s easy to while away a morning or afternoon at the town’s characterful nine-hole golf course just along the road.

Pirn Hill also offers magnificent views over to Traquair – the oldest continuously inhabited house in Scotland (pictured above) and another fine place for a visit. Explore the exquisite house with it’s literary and regal connections, take a stroll around the peaceful walled gardens, get lost in its beech-hedged maze and finish with wonderful refreshments in the estate’s Walled Garden Cafe.

Innerleithen’s High Street is proudly independent and boasts Robert Smail’s Printing Works (managed by the National Trust for Scotland), The Hub on the High Street and FINDRA – all mini-destinations in their own right. And when the lights go down – or the need to refuel arises – there’s a healthy smattering of cafes, restaurants, pubs and craft brewery to keep the spirits high.

Walkerburn

Like much of the valley, Walkerburn is inextricably connected to water. Its very name derives from the ‘Walker Burn’, a lively waterway that flows into the village from the slopes above Priesthope to the north.

When the Walkerburn mills were originally built, a lade running from a nearby crook in the Tweed produced enough power to keep the mill wheels turning. As production expanded in the early 1920s, a revolutionary system was built that pumped water from the River Tweed up to a reservoir on Kirnie Law, high above the village. Dismantled several years later, the reservoir – now a graffitied relic of the village’s industrial heritage – is the highlight of a much-loved walk or cycle from Walkerburn to Priesthope and Kirnie Law.

The section of traffic-free, Tweed Valley Railway Path running between Walkerburn and Innerleithen makes for a beautiful riverside walk, scoot or cycle. This stretch of river also marks the start of the Tweed’s more serious fishing beats. A sport synonymous with the Scottish Borders, local fishing guides are on hand to help visitors cast a line in one of Europe’s famed salmon rivers – or try their hand at still water fishing at nearby Kailzie Estate.

The Caberston Farm Coffee Shop in the heart of the village is the perfect pit stop for all pre- and post-activity breakfasts, lunches and sweet treats.

Peebles

Not technically on the TdF route – but only a short bus ride or drive from Innerleithen - historic Peebles is packed with year-round activity including golf, swimming, trail running and ziplining through the trees at Glentress Forest.

Classic walks including the Neidpath Castle Circuit and Venlaw & Soonhope leave from the town centre – with longer hikes including the John Buchan Way and Dun Rig Horseshoe providing epic adventures in the surrounding hills.

The literary connections run deep in the town too, with the John Buchan Story shining a light on the fascinating life of one of the area’s most notable writers. John and sister Anna feature in Tweed Valley Words, a literary trail with several landmarks, old and new, in and around Peebles (look for the red door at Bank House). The trail journeys along the valley as far as Abbotsford near Melrose – another celebrated town on the TdF route.

For more arts and culture locally, the fabulous Eastgate Theatre hosts a captivating programme of music and drama, film, talk, dance and more, with seasonal festivals celebrating nature and the outdoors now firmly established on the local events calendar.

And for gorgeous gardens and a world-class arboretum, head to Dawyck Botanic Garden or Kailzie Estate – both on the outskirts of Peebles, and both jam-packed with seasonal displays and a selection of Scotland’s most treasured trees.

For the inside scoop on the best places to eat, the most striking viewpoints and the must-see attractions in the wider Tweed Valley, drop into the Visitor Information Centre on School Brae for a chat. Need a guide? We heartily recommend Stewart Wilson (Tweed Valley Blogger) and Morven and William (Drummond Scottish Tours) for local tours of the valley – they know this patch like the back of their hands.