Yair Forest

Overview

This mixed woodland in the heart of Tweed Valley Forest Park provides breathtaking views over the River Tweed and surrounding hills.

Yair forest, which includes Lindinny Wood, sits close to one of the finest salmon fishing rivers in the world - the River Tweed.

There are a number of walking routes in this forest leading to wonderful views, and if you're very quiet and lucky you might come across roe deer, badger, otter and black grouse.

Walking routes include:

- Biodiversity Trail (1 mile/1.6 kms, grade: moderate, allow 30 mins)
- Raelees Trail (1.1 miles/1.8 kms, grade: easy, allow 30 mins)
- Three Brethren Trail (9 miles/14.5 kms, grade: demanding, allow 5 hours)

The Three Brethren Trail relates to the Southern Upland Way (at 212 miles, Scotland's longest long distance route) and leads to the well known Three Brethren (three cairns erected in the 1500's by the Laird's of Yair, Selkirk and Philiphaugh to mark their respective boundaries) at the upper reaches of the forest.

Yair forest and the River Tweed are inextricably linked as 'yair' is the old Scots word for a fish trap. The origin of 'yair' in this case is thought to link to King Malcolm, who in 1156, granted the monks of Kelso eight acres of land, along with the right to build a fish trap.