The Scottish Borders is fortunate to have an excellent calendar of traditional music events which include extremely talented and highly skilled musicians, enthusiastic festival organisers and a reputation as an unbeatable destination for lovers of traditional music.

Scotland’s music was enriched by the ballads of Sir Walter Scott and James Hogg and it continues to be so today with new songs composed from our rich heritage and culture.

For further information and to view the programme, please visit Traditional Music Festivals.

The Welcome to the Scottish Borders guide has been designed to provide useful information about a range of key public and private services for people who come to work, live and visit or who are travelling through the Scottish Borders.  

The guide has been printed in English and Polish.  Copies in English, Polish, Portuguese and Lithuanian can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.   

Hard copies of the guide are available from Scottish Borders Council libraries, Contact Centres; Citizens Advice Bureau or by calling Jenny Williamson, Business Improvement Unit at Scottish Borders Council on 01835 824000.   

The population of the Scottish Borders is growing and such growth is critical to the sustainability of jobs, businesses and services.  People are arriving in the Scottish Borders from the rest of the UK and from countries both within and outside the European Union, making the area more diverse.  It is vital that newcomers are warmly welcomed into local communities and given clear and accurate information to assist them.   

The guide was compiled by Scottish Borders Council, the Fairer Borders Group and its Migrant Support Group, a partnership of statutory, voluntary and private sector bodies in the Scottish Borders.  The guide is aimed at supporting the work of the Scottish Borders Migrant Support Service (http://www.newtotheborders.co.uk/) and is funded by the Scottish Government’s Fairer Scotland Fund.  

Please download your copy of Welcome to the Scottish Borders guide:

English version

Lithuanian version

Polish version

Portuguese version

The famous red and white rugby shirt of the South of Scotland will once again grace Border rugby grounds.   The South of Scotland are to play Northumberland in a cross Border challenge, home and away, with the first fixture to be played at Mansfield Park, Hawick on Wednesday, 30 December with a 7.30pm kick off. The away date has still to be finalised.

All Border League clubs have discussed this initiative and all the clubs are giving it their full support, which is great news for the players and rugby supporters in the Borders.

The team will be coached by Melrose coach Craig Chalmers and assisted by John Dalziel, while Gala’s Richie Gray will be Manager/Selector with Gary Parker also a selector.

Border League President Jim Wood, said:  “When Hawick brought up this initiative to a Border League meeting in October it was fully discussed and has moved on pretty quickly. This is great news for Border rugby and this type of fixture will give the players something to aspire to above club rugby. We look forward to a big crowd supporting this game in the Borders.”

Manager Richie Gray went on:  “In sport you must have an avenue for player progression so that there is always a next level for the committed club player to aspire to. The South name and red and white hooped jersey represents rugby culture, tradition and history of a famous rugby district, it was vital that this team was allowed to play again” 
 
Head Coach Craig Chalmers commented:  “It is an honour to be asked by the Border League to coach this side as it brings back so many great many memories for me personally as a player.  A cross Border challenge against a strong Northumberland side made up off quality club sides like Newcastle Falcons Academy, Tynedale, Percy Park, Northern and Morpeth is a fitting start to a new era for South rugby.  This will give the best club players in our region a real test”

For further information visit: www.bordersrugby.net