Pictures of the Borders: Peebles, Neidpath Castle and a Scottish Wedding

The Borders as a region is often left out from people's itinerary while they're in Scotland. The Borders don't have as many famous castles as the East Coast, nor the impressive geological shapes the Scottish Highlands do, but it suffice to say that Scotland's beautiful scenery extends as far as the Borders.

The one place I've had the pleasure of visiting is the small town of Peebles which offered me an unique experience not once, but twice. The town is about half an hour by bus from Penicuik (you can use the 62 First Bus). Some of the nicest things in Peebles are the park where you can often see people waking their dogs, the churches which are numerous for such a small town and last but by no means least, Neidpath Castle.

Neidpath Castle is located just outside Peebles (you can easily walk to it) and even though it's not as amazing as other Scottish Castles is has a charm of its own. I particularly liked the damaged part which you can't see from the road but rather from the opposite side.

Another interesting event in Peebles were the Scottish Games Traditionally organised in the Highlands, the small town of Peebles organises its own series of games which include the traditional trials: highland dancing, pipe band contest, drum major contest and highland athletics which feature the famous "toss the caber" trial. The games are held every mid September in Peebles' central park and by the time you've left you can honestly say that you've experienced Scotland.

I fortunate enough to be in Peebles at the right time, just as a Scottish wedding was taking place in the central church. The groom and guests were dressed in traditional tartan kilts (different for each clan) and the series of pictures I managed to take showed a unique Scottish wedding, without the stiff attitude shown in official pictures..