River Tweed Salmon Fishing Museum Opens

The new River Tweed Salmon Fishing Museum in Kelso will open its doors to the public on Friday 4th September 2020.

The museum, created by a team of volunteer salmon fishing experts displays more than 2,000 objects dedicated to the history of salmon fishing on the Tweed. Maps, models, books, photographs, rods, reels, flies and salmon fishing memorabilia, celebrating the development of the sport in the Scottish Borders since the mid 18th century, will be on show.

Visitors can also view a replica 19th century fishing bothy as well as a carving of a 69 ¾ lb salmon caught on the Tweed by Earl Home around 1735, possibly the sport’s largest British salmon.

The influence of 19th century writers in developing the sport’s popularity is explored and visitors can learn about the salmon’s lifecycle. The Tweed’s flora, fauna, bird and insect life is showcased as visitors learn the importance of caring for the river’s diverse habitat.

It is hoped that as tourism resumes, the new Salmon Fishing Museum will attract around 10,000 UK and international visitors a year. The sport is particularly popular in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, New Zealand, Argentina as well as Russia the USA and Canada.

The River Tweed Salmon Fishing Museum has taken three years and over £70,000 to plan and create, with £35,700 of funding coming from the Fallago Environment Fund and a £10,000 grant from the Scottish Borders Council Communities Fund.

Fallago Environment Fund Chairman, Gareth Baird said; “The River Tweed is famous for its salmon fishing but many people are unaware of just how important the Borders is in the sport’s history. The Fallago Environment Fund is delighted that we can help to tell this important story through the creation of a Museum that will inform, inspire and provide another great reason for people to visit the area.”

The museum, which is located in the Town Hall, The Square, Kelso, will be open seven days a week (Monday- Saturday 9am-4pm, Sunday 10am-1pm — Closed 10 December – 1 February) and is free of charge for visitors.

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