Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 12 on 19/1/2004.

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It's all uphill for the salmon

Steve Newman looks at he salmon as it returns to the river Tweed, and the animals and hazards it encounters on its way.

The salmon has one of the longest journeys of any animal on the planet. The Tweed has long been recognised as Britain’s premier salmon river twisting its way from the western Border hills to the sea at Berwick.

Even before it reaches the estuary of the Tweed the salmon must run the gauntlet of the local offshore fisherman in the their small wooden boats.

These boats are known as cobles and can be found along the north east coast from Scarborough in the south to Eyemouth in the north.

Once inside the estuary the salmon have to avoid the seals waiting for them as well as the net fisherman who have carried out their trade here since being granted a licence by King John.

It’s a common enough site to watch a seal throw a salmon into the air when you’re standing on the medieval walls that tower over the water.

The estuary has huge scientific value as well as being the wintering grounds for the goldeneye that have flown here from Scandinavia and Iceland to escape the severe winter weather.

The estuary also is home to Berwick’s famous herd of more than 200 wild swans – often to be seen feeding by the docks where the grain ships have accidentally spilled some of their cargo.

The salmon swim on up the river, under Berwick’s famous three bridges, past the large heronry where often the birds stand motionless in fields waiting for the tide to recede and offer them a feast of worms and stranded fish.

The river now adopts the wide sluggish look of all rivers as they approach their m.....

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By Steve Newman

Section : Scottish Journeys

Page number : 42