Running through everything I do is a passion about connecting people with place. I collaborate with organisations across the Borders and beyond to bring local history and culture to life through communication and thoughtful visitor experiences.

If your organisation is looking to deepen its connection to Borders heritage, enrich how you tell your story or create meaningful experiences for visitors, then I would love to work with you.

What I Offer

freelance tour guiding services

I provide professional, fully researched and expertly delivered tours for heritage sites, estates, venues and organisations, creating experiences that blend historical accuracy, storytelling, visitor engagement and a rich sense of place. I also partner with the travel trade to deliver private tours for guests seeking high quality experiences in the Scottish Borders and beyond. Whether working directly with a venue or representing a travel trade organisation, I uphold your standards while bringing depth, warmth and authenticity to every tour.

Heritage Storytelling & Interpretation

I craft clear, engaging narratives for heritage trails and displays, helping audiences connect emotionally with the past and understand the significance of place.

Editorial Content & Heritage Writing

I produce engaging writing for blogs, magazines and websites. My writing focuses on place, not promotion, and is tailored to the audience.

Talks, Lectures & Public Speaking

I deliver talks and storytelling sessions for community groups, private parties, festivals, cultural events and heritage organisations. These can be historical deep dives, thematic explorations or simply an intro to the Scottish Borders. I have also hosted Q&A sessions creating space for audiences to engage, ask questions and explore topics in a relaxed, conversational way. Whether it’s a formal lecture or an informal fireside style discussion, I bring clarity and warmth to every event.

Who I Work With

• Tourism organisations and destination marketing organisations (Fable Tours, Clans & Castles Ltd, Go Tweed Valley, South of Scotland Destination Alliance)

• Heritage Sites and Visitor Attractions (Neidpath Castle, Penicuik Estate, Famously Hawick, Abbotsford Trust, The Great Tapestry of Scotland)

• PR agencies, media and cultural partners (Bright Light Marketing/Borders Book Festival, The Scots Magazine, Voices from Scotland podcast)

• Festivals and event organisers (Tour O The Borders, World Sheepdog Trials, Wild Writers Festival, Scottish Borders Brass Band Association)

• Local organisations and businesses seeking heritage storytelling (Innerleithen Mill Lade Trail, Peebles High School, Galashiels BID, Heriot-Watt University, The Provincial Grand Lodge of The Scottish Borders)

Why Work With Me

• Deep, lived knowledge of the Scottish Borders

• Warm, humorous, human storytelling

• Ability to translate complex history into accessible narratives

• Strong community connections across Borders towns

• Experience designing tours and visitor experiences

• Trusted, authentic voice - not an ‘influencer’

• Editorial independence and thoughtful content

• Sensitivity to local identity, heritage and place

Get in Touch

If you’d like to discuss a project, explore an idea, or chat about how we might work together, you can reach me at:

stewart@tweedvalleyblogger.com

I’m always happy to hear from organisations who care about heritage, storytelling and the future of the Scottish Borders.