Paxton Glen

Linking Scotland and England, the oldest suspension bridge still in existence today is the Union Bridge over the River Tweed, a chain-link bridge designed and erected by Captain Samuel Brown in 1820, with a span of 449ft (137m). Predates the Menai Suspension Bridge by about 6 years.

Part of the parapet leading to the union bridge aka old chain bridge, this lies between Scotland and England - a stile to nowhere?

from the inside looking out. Paxton is an outstation of the National Galleries of Scotland. IT doesn't open until 11am and I was there just before 9am this was as far as I got, pretty much.

Information about the bridge pictured in NT9351 : Union Suspension Bridge. This is on the Scots side of the bridge, but before the Scotland sign, therefore in no-man's land.

Photograph taken from the English side.

Taken from the English side.

On the Kelso to Berwick road. Pennine Cycleway.

Situated on the banks of the river Tweed, Paxton House is a hidden gem. Built by the Adam brothers in 1758 for the young Patrick Home it is perhaps the finest example of 18th century Palladian Country houses in Britain.

Salmon Nets: There were many different types of nets used by salmon fishermen along the River Tweed. Over the centuries many nets were made illegal as they were not considered a fair way of fishing for salmon. An Act passed in 1830 for example, made 'bag', 'bob' and 'T-nets' illegal and the Tweed Fisheries Act 1857 stated that all types of fixed net could not be used along the river. Different types of nets were used along different sections of the river. A 'ford net' for example, was used on ford heads and in the shallow parts of the river. When the fish were spotted coming up the river a signal was given and the net was drawn so as to trap the fish. 'Wear-shot nets' were also used by salmon fishermen along the River Tweed. A wear-shot net was towed by the boat into the river in a curve and then immediately drawn to the shore. 'Trammel nets', 'cairn nets' and 'pout nets' were used in the middle to upper districts of the river and were legal as long as they were used during the proper fishing hours and by qualified persons. 'Drift' and 'hang nets' were also used to fish for salmon especially along the coast of Northumberland. Drift or hang nets have been used for catching salmon and sea trout since the early 19th century. A hang net is a net on poles which was placed in the sea below the high water mark. Drift nets are normally rigged to form a curtain in the water. The net is then set out in a straight line and 'drifts' with the current. Fish then swim into the net and are 'gilled' (caught). The fishing depth of the net can be adjusted by adding weights to the bottom of the sheet. A number of drift nets could also be joined together to form a 'fleet' of nets.

Broadmeadows Farm is in the background.

A field near West Loanend.

The track forms part of a public footpath to Loanend.

Flat farmland above the deep dean of the Whiteadder. The newly ploughed land will have benefited from the recent long frost breaking up the soil.