My little piece of Scotland: Coldstream

Published on Sunday 1 November 2009 10:55

MY FAVOURITE place in Scotland is Coldstream, in the Scottish Borders. It is a small village right on the border with England, and there is a bridge there that crosses the River Tweed, which serves as the boundary between the two countries.

I like Coldstream because of the spectacular views and scenery – like Henderson Park, where I like to spend time sitting on a bench and reading a book. I first visited Coldstream when I was just a baby, as my Granma lives there, and I have loved it ever since.

My first memory of Coldstream was walking in the Hirsel Woods, which is very beautiful due to its setting, with a lake and lots of trees and green fields. The Hirsel is home to lots of different animals, such as ducks, swans, squirrels, and buzzards – my favourite being the Highland cows, which always look so lovely in such a spectacular setting.

The Hirsel also has lots of shops in its grounds, including craft shops, jewellery shops and cafs. There is nothing better than a good slice of carrot cake and a hot chocolate after a long walk through the woods. Another of my favourite walks is along the banks of the river. The Tweed is a very famous river. It is 97 miles long and twists and turns through the Borders to the North Sea.

The highlight of Coldstream's year has to be Civic Week, which happens in the first week of August. The town people come together and there is so much to do and see that it's impossible to get to everything. The celebrations are led by the Coldstreamer, who is a young man from the town, and he is helped by his right-hand and left-hand men. They dress in traditional outfits and ride their horses at various times through the town. The best part of Civic Week for me is the Friday night, when everyone dresses up and joins in the fancy dress parade. There is always a prize for the most original float, and the fireworks by the Tweed are awesome.

Coldstream is a very special place. I think I will always be drawn back there when I am older, as I feel very much at home in the peaceful country surroundings.

This article was first published in the Scotland on Sunday on November 1, 2009