Popular television archaeologist Neil Oliver, the owner of the most famous long locks on the small screen, happily admits his interest in the vikings was sparked, like for many of us, by watching Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis pretend to be Norse raiders for movie audiences.

IT was a tough old gig, up against Joanna Lumley at the Borders Book Festival, but William McIlvanney pulled it off with eloquence, style and humour, writes Kevin Janiak.

Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng has become the first overseas writer to win the £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction at the Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival.

A former shooting manager for a top hotel has set up his own business in the Borders, offering rural sporting packages to visitors.

Book Festival favourite Tom Conti was another big name gracing the annual four-day literary extravaganza’s opening night.

THE Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival at Harmony House in Melrose is most definitely under way, writes Kevin Janiak.

The Duke of Roxburghe, pictured second from left, planted a blueberry bush last week to mark the official opening of new allotments on the outskirts of Kelso, with the help of Matty and Lewis Fleming.

A crowd of around 100 gathered for the recent opening of the James Hogg Exhibition in its new home in the mothballed Ettrick Primary School.

A Kelso woman, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, has beaten more than 200 other entries to scoop a major care sector award.

The charity fundraising MoonWalk Edinburgh attracted local walkers on Saturday night.

At first glance, Coldingham Bay on the Berwickshire coast would seem to have little in common with Hawaii’s

Kirkwell House is a traditional detached Baronial villa in an elevated position on the northern edge of Duns and enjoying extensive outlooks to the Cheviots.

Coldingham Bay has retained its Seaside Award status, but hasn’t been able to regain the Blue Flag award which it lost last year, writes Janice Gillie.

Wow – more than a week of glorious sunshine! Could this be summer at last?

Tree researchers are hoping “citizen scientists” will help them build up a picture of the health of broadleaved trees in the UK.

No chickens this week. Or chicks. Or rally cars. This week I’m talking turkey. Well, one turkey in particular. A turkey that is trouble with a capital T.

Photographs of a demonstration for the local horse festival two years ago inspired leading classical rider and author Sylvia Loch to put pen to paper.

Scotland’s first straw house began to take shape near Stow this week.

Today

The biggest week of the year for another Border town is fast approaching, with final preparations being made for Melrose Festival.