MartynK

This seems to be the 'official' position. You pass signs welcoming you to 'The Borders' when you drive from D & G to Edinburgh. My wife lives in the south west and I've spent a bit of time there. She seems to like it, I don't.

scot47

https://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/y...=yhs-fh_lsonsw


The local government area called "Scottish Borders" (formerly "Borders Region") is the Eastern part of the Marches with England. The Western part is Dumfries and Galloway. The SW ie Dumfries and Galloway is quite distinct and people living there would not describe themselves as "Borderers".

MartynK

Some people also refer to the 'Stewarty'. I think it had something to do with Kirkcudbrightshire but I'm not sure.

scot47

The Stewartry of Kirkcudbrightshire was a county. In the 1974 reorganisation of local goverenement it became part of Dumfries and Galloway, as did Wigtownshire and Dumfries-shire. Effectively that was the end of local government in the area. Everything is now centralised in Dumfries and run by council officials from there.

lf1

I moved to the Scottish Borders in 2012, after 30+ years in Canada. I haven't looked back. I live in a village near Kelso and my social life is better than when I lived in a large city, but I suppose that will depend on what interests you. Both Edinburgh and Newcastle are just over an hours drive, so a city fix is just a pretty drive away. Trains are available from Berwick-upon-Tweed and Tweedbank. I can find most things I need locally, but Berwick and Galashiels are about a half hours drive for access to some of the "high street" shops and online shopping is very handy, depending upon what you are ordering.

We are right next door to Northumberland, which is an undiscovered gem with some pretty market towns and villages and the beautiful coastal village of Bamburgh. I live in the coutryside, but the coast is just a half hour drive through quiet country roads. Traffic is generally very light with traffic slowdowns usually caused by farm vehicles or horses.

As someone mentioned up thread, the climate is drier than the west but it is cooler than the west. I'll take the reduced rainfall any day, although I do enjoy
the rain from time to time.

Sorry for the delay in responding to your post, but I've been away on holiday in the wonderful Yorkshire Dales an area I highly recommend. I can't wait to make a return visit. Let me know if you any other questions as I read your post this morning and started my reply only to have been sidetracked until now.

Still Game

We have looked at many houses along the new trainline. If you're having to commute to Edinburgh by public transport it's best to look along that line. Here's the stops Visit The Scottish Borders | Borders Railway (look down the bottom of the page)

Downton Gabby

Thanks so much for your reply. It sounds just lovely where you are. It might be a bit too remote for me. Not sure. I'll ask some q's soon, I'm sure.