There are different ways of enjoying the waters in Merlindale, according to these locals.
Boating on the field – when our grandson was little and the river flooded the fields here, we would put him in the rubber dinghy to paddle around on the floodwaters because we knew it was safe!
My favourite swimming spot is here at the bottom of the wildflower meadow. The river bed slopes away making the water here very deep – up to my neck – which is deeper than most swimming spots along the river. There’s a good current for swimming breaststroke into, and then you can just lie back and float back down again…
We have lived here for 45 years. My dog has a daily swim in the Minister’s Pool and, when my grandson and his five friends came to visit recently, they all had a swim before breakfast too.
These stories were shared with us during the 2026 Merlindale Nature Festival, held near Drumelzier on Saturday 1 August 2026. With thanks to everyone who added their stories to our giant River Tweed map.
