Old Photograph River Leader Scotland

Old photograph of the River Leader, or Leader Water, a small tributary of the River Tweed in Lauderdale. It flows southwards from the Lammermuir Hills through the town of Lauder in the Scottish Borders, Scotland. The feeder burns, meaning streams, of the Leader Water are the Headshaw Burn, the Hillhouse Burn and the Kelphope Burn. They combine at the Carfrae mill hotel and the village of Oxton. The river is now sandwiched between the A68 and the A697, and it has absorbed the Cleekhimin Burn, Harry Burn, Washing Burn and Earnscleugh Burn. The Leader Water now passes to the east of the town of Lauder, by Thirlestane Castle. The A679 bridges the river which continues past Lauder Barns, West Mains and St. Leonards where the Leader receives his final feeder burn, the Boondreigh Burn. It now sticks closely by the A68, near the Whitslaid Tower, the Blainslies, Galadean, Birkhill, Chapel-on-Leader and Leadervale. After passing through the outskirts of Earlston, the course of the river is almost done, as it skirts some woodland, and after passing Drygrange, it joins the Tweed at Leaderfoot Viaduct. Nearby are Scott's View, Bemersyde House, Bemersyde Moss, Carolside, Dryburgh Abbey, the William Wallace Statue and the Roman forts at Newstead.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.