Did You Know? - Border Between Scotland and England Did You Know? - Border Between Scotland and England The border between Scotland and England stretches for 108 miles (174 kilometres) between the Solway Firth along the Cheviot Hills and the river Tweed, to the North Sea. Hadrian's Wall, built by the Romans, ran further south than this, from Carlisle on the river Eden to the river Tyne in the east. The town of Berwick on Tweed, at the mouth of the Tweed, changed hands between Scotland and England 13 times between 1147 and 1482 before finally becoming part of England. Despite being in England, the football (soccer) team in Berwick (Berwick Rangers) plays in the Scottish League, the only English team to do so. Use the "Back" button on your browser or click here to return to the Index of "Did You Know?" Where else would you like to go in Scotland? Links Pages Rivers Avon (Bristol) From the Kennet & Avon Canal at Hanham Lock the River Avon runs for 13.75 miles to the Bristol Channel and then into open sea.

The wonderful city of Bristol is steeped in maritime and engineering history, much of which is attributable to Isambard Kingdom Brunel . Brunel's incredible suspension bridge at Clifton is a spectacle never forgotten. Bristol Docks have undergone modernisation and the famous 18th Century statue of Neptune, originally erected in the Temple area, is now part of a pedestrianised city centre. Avon (Stratford) Upper Avon or Warwickshire Avon River in southern England; length 154 km / 96 miles. Sometimes known as the Upper Avon or Warwickshire Avon, it rises in the Northamptonshire uplands near Naseby and flows southwest through Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Evesham, before joining the River Severn near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. One of Britain's most secluded cruising rivers, the Avon meanders past ancient towns and through picturesque countryside. It flows through Stratford, Evesham and Pershore to Tewkesbury, where it meets the mighty River Severn . Its surroundings have changed little since the days of its most famous son, William Shakespeare.

The Avon is a popular river with motor cruisers and narrowboats, but the wide valley and peaceful villages give it an untroubled air that makes it one of Britain's most relaxing waterways. Though there is no continuous towpath, there are many walking opportunities. It is often known as Shakespeare's Avon or simply the 'Stratford Avon', because Avon is such a common river name - deriving from Afon, the Welsh for 'river'. Calder River in West Yorkshire, England; length 72 km / 45 miles It rises in the Pennine moors northwest of Todmorden, and joins the River Aire at Castleford. Several large reservoirs supplying water to West Yorkshire towns lie within its catchment area. The Aire and Calder Navigation forms a link in the system of rivers and canals that provides a waterway from the River Mersey to the River Humber. The Calder valley, via Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge, Mirfield, to Wakefield, is one of the main road and rail routes through the Pennines. Calder River in Cumbria, England. It flows into the Irish Sea 16 km / 10 miles southeast of Whitehaven.

Calder River in central Lancashire, England; length 24 km / 15 miles It joins the River Ribble near Whalley. Cam River in southeast England. It rises in Ashwell, Hertfordshire, and flows 65 km / 40 miles northwest and northeast through Cambridgeshire, and then into the River Ouse, 6 km / 4 miles south of Ely. The Cam is joined at Hauxton by the River Granta, which rises in Essex, and is known thereafter as either the Cam or the Granta. It is navigable as far as the city of Cambridge. Dee (Cheshire) The River Dee passes through magnificent borderland scenery as it tumbles from Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) through Llangollen to Chester and the sea. Along its way, it passes over Horseshoe Falls and under the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, two landmarks around the charming town of Llangollen. The Dee can be navigated by all craft from Farndon, in rural Cheshire, through Chester and out to the sea. The upper reaches are prized by canoeists, though access rights are hotly debated.

Dee (Scotland) The fifth longest river in Scotland, the Dee flows through some of the most stunning scenery in Scotland on its journey from the Cairngorm Mountains to the North Sea at Aberdeen. Fast-flowing and rocky at times, the River Dee has an abundance of character that is magnificent. It is not uncommon to see canoeists paddling down along the river. The �Royal Dee' is overlooked, at parts, by the magnificent Balmoral Estate, which offers angling and also some impressive marked walks. Balmoral Castle has been enjoyed by generations of royals since Queen Victoria. Dove River in Derbyshire, England, a tributary of the Trent; length 65 km / 40 miles. The Dove rises on Axe Edge, 6 km / 4 miles from Buxton, and forms the southwestern border between Derbyshire and Staffordshire as it flows south to join the Trent near Burton. The valley of Dovedale, below Hartington, where the river runs through a rocky, wooded gorge some 3 km / 2 miles long, is popular with walkers.

Fal For more than 2,000 years the River Fal was the life-blood of the Cornish community between Truro and Falmouth. Today, the tourist town of Falmouth is known as the sailing and yachting capital of the county. Luxury vessels line the Fal Estuary � the third largest natural harbour in the world � and pretty yachts congregate during the Falmouth sailing regatta. Back in the 17th Century, Falmouth was famed for its Post Office Packet sailing boats which carried mail and cargo to and from places as far afield as the East Indies. Boats have travelled up the Fal to the port of Truro since the bygone days of 1170, and vessels approaching 85m in length still regularly sail upstream into the city. The traditional industries of ship repair, cargo handling and yacht building continue to bring money into Falmouth, and old-fashined oyster boats can still be seen trailing the river and charming onlookers. However, the town and the area surrounding the river are now largely dependent on tourism.

Cornwall is an ever popular holiday destination � especially during the summer months � and the Fal's maritime traditions, picturesque harbours and interesting towns win the hearts of visitors year after year. Great Ouse River which rises near Brackley in Northamptonshire, central England, and flows eastwards through Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk, before entering the Wash north of King's Lynn; length 250 km / 160 miles. A large sluice across the Great Ouse, near King's Lynn, was built as part of extensive flood-control works in 1959. The chief tributaries of the Great Ouse are the Ivel, Cam , Lark, Little Ouse, Wissey, and Nar, all of which come from the south or east. The Bedfordshire Ouse was diverted in the 17th century from its devious course through Ely via two new channels called the New and Old Bedford rivers, 32 km / 20 miles long, running in a direct line from Earith near St Ives to Denver Sluice near Downham Market.

Hamble For 7.5 miles from Botley to Southampton Water, the River Hamble offers facilities for sea-going vessels in scenic surroundings that are very popular especially in the high season. It's known throughout the yachting world as the Heart of British Yachting. The river's position makes it suited both for weekend trips and as a base for international yachtsmen. There are numerous festivals and regattas throughout the year. The entrance to the River is illuminated with sector lights at Hamble Point and Warsash. Manifold River which flows through the Manifold Valley, a limestone gorge situated at the southern end of the Peak District in Staffordshire, England. For a distance of about 1.5 km / 1 miles the river disappears underground in swallow holes for part of the year. Mersey River in northwest England; length 112 km / 70 miles. Formed by the confluence of the Goyt and Tame rivers at Stockport, it flows west through the south of Manchester, is joined by the Irwell at Flixton and by the Weaver at Runcorn, and enters the Irish Sea at Liverpool Bay. It drains large areas of the Lancashire and Cheshire plains.

The Mersey is linked to the Manchester Ship Canal. Although plans were announced in 1990 to build a 1,800-m / 5,907-ft barrage across the Mersey estuary to generate electricity from tides, these were abandoned in 1992 for financial reasons. The river lies entirely below 45 m / 150 ft. It is artificially modified (as part of the Manchester Ship Canal) as far as Warrington, where it becomes tidal. The Mersey is polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and chemicals. The Mersey became an artery of communications from the 18th century. Boats for passengers and goods used the river, with its major tributary the Irwell, between Liverpool and Manchester from 1720; the Bridgewater Canal acquired this traffic in the late 18th century. The Mersey had passenger services until the development of the railway in the middle of the 19th century. In the estuary (which has an area of over 78 sq km / 30 sq miles), steam ferries provided transport for commuters from the residential areas of Cheshire to Liverpool from 1815.

In 1934 the first road tunnel under the Mersey was opened. Until the 1920s the river formed the boundary between Lancashire and Cheshire. Nidd River in North Yorkshire, England, located within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The river flows southeast from the base of Whernside (27 km / 17 miles northwest of Ripon) into the River Ouse near York. Water is supplied to Bradford from a dam above the village of Pateley Bridge. Upper Nidderdale is a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. Nith River of southern Scotland, rising in East Ayrshire unitary authority, about 13 km / 8 miles south of Cumnock, and flowing southeast for about 112 km / 70 miles through the valley of Nithsdale in Dumfries and Galloway unitary authority, before entering the Solway Firth 13 km / 8 miles south of Dumfries.

Severn Welsh Hafren Longest River in Britain , which rises on the slopes of Plynlimon, in Ceredigion, west Wales, and flows east and then south, finally forming a long estuary leading into the Bristol Channel; length 336 km / 208 miles. The Severn is navigable for 290 km / 180 miles, up to Welshpool (Trallwng) on the Welsh border. The principal towns on its course are Shrewsbury, Worcester, and Gloucester. England and South Wales are linked by two road bridges and a railway tunnel crossing the Severn. A remarkable feature of the river is a tidal wave known as the `Severn Bore� that flows for some miles upstream and can reach a height of 2 m / 6 ft. The Severn rail tunnel was built in 1873-85. The first of the road bridges to be built opened in 1966, and carries the M4 motorway linking London and South Wales. A second road bridge was opened in 1996 and carries the M48 motorway.

From its source, the Severn passes east through Powys and enters Shropshire near the Brythen Hills. Southeast of Shrewsbury, the river passes through Ironbridge Gorge, `cradle of the Industrial Revolution� and now a tourist attraction. Thereafter, it runs through Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, widening considerably after it passes Newnham. The Severn is navigable by larger ships (of around 8,000 tonnes) as far as Sharpness, and by smaller vessels (up to 700 tonnes) to Gloucester, while barges of 350 tonnes capacity can negotiate its upper reaches as far as Stourport. The Severn is connected with the rivers Trent and Mersey via the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal , and with the canal network around Birmingham via the Worcester and Birmingham Canal , which joins the Severn at Worcester. Between Gloucester and Sharpness, the treacherous nature of the riverbed necessitated the construction, in 1827, of the 26 km / 16 mile long, lock-free Sharpness and Gloucester Ship Canal.

Tributaries of the Severn include the Teme, Stour, Wye , Vyrnwy, Tern, and Avon; in total, the river basin covers an area of 11,420 sq km / 4,409 sq miles. Crossings Between 1873 and 1885, a rail tunnel was dug underneath the Severn near Chepstow, running for a distance of 7.2 km / 4.4 miles, from New Passage to Portskewett; this crossing greatly facilitated travel between Bristol and the Welsh capital Cardiff. A road suspension bridge was opened nearby, from Aust to Beachley, in 1966; this crossing carries the main M4 motorway linking London and South Wales and is subject to payment of a toll by users. Because of the increase in traffic volume, construction of a new road bridge was started in 1992 and completed five years later. Hydroelectric power In 1933, a committee recommended the construction of a hydroelectric power station on a river barrage at English Stones reef, which would utilize the tidal flow of the Severn.

This plan, which was interrupted by World War II, was revived in 1945, when engineers confirmed the practicability of the scheme and projected an output of some 2,190,000,000 kWh. However, no tidal power plant has yet been built. Spey Second longest river in Scotland. It flows through Highland and Moray, rising 14 km / 8 miles southeast of Fort Augustus, for 172 km / 107 miles to the Moray Firth between Lossiemouth and Buckie. It has salmon fisheries at its mouth. The upper river augments the Lochaber hydroelectric scheme. Whisky is distilled in the Spey valley. Taf River in Carmarthenshire, southwest Wales, rising on the eastern side of the Preseli Hills and flowing through Carmarthenshire to Carmarthen Bay; length 50 km / 31 miles Commercial fisheries operate in Carmarthen Bay. The village of Laugharne lies at the mouth of the river.

Tay Longest river in Scotland ; length 193 km / 120 miles, it flows northeast through Loch Tay, then east and southeast past Perth to the Firth of Tay, crossed at Dundee by the Tay Bridge, before joining the North Sea. The Tay has salmon fisheries; its main tributaries are the Tummel, Isla, and Earn, Braan, and Almond. The drainage basin of the Tay and its tributaries forms one the most fully integrated hydroelectric developments in the north of Scotland. The first Tay Bridge, opened in 1878, on the then longest span over water in the world, was blown into the river in 1879, along with a train which was passing over it. The bridge was rebuilt in 1883-88, and a road bridge, from Newport-on-Tay to Dundee, was completed in 1966. Tees River flowing from the Pennines in Cumbria, northwest England, to the North Sea via Tees Bay, Middlesborough unitary authority, in northeast England; length 130 km / 80 miles.

Its port, Teesport, handles in excess of 42 million tonnes per annum, with port trade mainly chemical-related. Although much of the river nearing the sea is polluted with industrial waste, sewage, and chemicals, the Tees Barrage (opened in 1985, cost of construction �50 million) enables a 16 km / 10 mile stretch of the river to provide clean, non-tidal water. This is used for white - water sports, including canoeing. The Tees rises in the north Pennines at Tees Head, on the easterly reaches of Cross Fell, Cumbria, and flows southeast and then northeast through Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough, entering the Tees Mouth estuary to join the North Sea. It is navigable to Middlesbrough. Its main tributaries are the Lune, Balder, and Greta. The river valley, known as Teesdale, includes Mickle Fell (790 m / 2,326 ft), the highest point in County Durham, and the waterfall of High Force.

The Tees has a unique transporter bridge (a bridge consisting of a movable platform suspended from cables), opened in 1911, which has 49 m / 160 ft clearance above the water. Its central section transports cars and people across the Tees towards Hartepool. It is the sole working example in England. Teme The river Teme is the second largest tributary of the River Severn . It rises in the Kerry hills in Mid Wales from a small spring in Bryn Coch quarry on Cilfaesty Hills at 460 metres above sea level. The Teme is a rural river flowing through unspoilt countryside which is regarded as some of the most attractive in Britain. The main town on the Teme is the historic border town of Ludlow in Shropshire. The Teme Valley, running down from Ludlow, comprises of the orchards, woods and countryside of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, to the foothills of the Malverns, the valley of the River Teme is an area of great beauty, interesting architecture, quiet places and rural pursuits.

The rural nature of the river is reflected by high quality water with excellent brown trout and grayling fishing, with a challenge for the purist angler willing to accept the rugged conditions. Thames River in south England, flowing through London; length 338 km / 210 miles. The longest river in England , it rises in the Cotswold Hills above Cirencester and is tidal as far as Teddington. Below London there is protection from flooding by means of the Thames Barrier (1982). The headstreams unite at Lechlade. Tributaries from the north are the Windrush, Evenlode, Cherwell, Thame, Colne, Lea, and Roding; and from the south, the Kennet, Loddon, Wey, Mole, Darent, and Medway. Around Oxford the river is sometimes poetically called the Isis. The construction of a 11 km / 7 mile flood alleviation channel between Maidenhead and Eton was approved in 1994.

At Gravesend, the head of the estuary, it has a width of 1 km / 0.6 miles, gradually increasing to 16 km / 10 miles at the Nore. Lying some 5 km / 3 miles southwest of the Nore is the mouth of the Medway estuary, at the head of which lie Chatham with important naval dockyards, Gillingham, and Rochester. Gravesend on the south bank of the river, some 40 km / 25 miles from the Nore, developed at a point where vessels used to await the turn of the tide. Tidal waters reach Teddington, 100 km / 62 miles from its mouth, where the first lock from the sea (except for the tidal lock at Richmond) is located. There are in all 47 locks, St John's Lock, Lechlade, being nearest the source. The normal rise and fall of the tide is from 4.5 m / 15 ft to 7 m / 23 ft at London Bridge and from 4 m / 13 ft to 6 m / 20 ft at Tilbury.

Until Tower Bridge was built, London Bridge was the lowest in the course; the reach between these two bridges is known as the `Pool of London�. Tilbury, Fort and Docks, important as the main London container terminal, lies opposite Gravesend on the northern bank. At Woolwich, some 30 km / 19 miles above Tilbury, is the arsenal; Greenwich, a little farther upriver, has the Royal Naval College. Between Tilbury and London Bridge (some 40 km / 25 miles upstream) stretches the London dock System. The Thames has been frozen over at various times, the earliest recorded occasion being AD 1150. The embankments of the Thames in London were the work of Sir Joseph Bazalgette (1819-91), chief engineer of the Metropolitan Board of Works. The Albert Embankment on the south side was completed in 1869, the Victoria Embankment from Westminster to Blackfriars in 1870, and the Chelsea Embankment from the Royal Hospital to Battersea Bridge in 1874.

In January 1949 work was started on a new embankment, designed by J Rawlinson, chief engineer of the former London County Council, on the south side from County Hall to Waterloo Bridge. These embankments were raised after 1974. There are walkways (formerly towpaths) from Teddington to Cricklade. The Port of London Authority is responsible for the control and conservation of the river below Teddington. Above Teddington the Environment Agency is the responsible authority; there is some barge traffic on this stretch of the river. The Thames is of great importance to the water supply of London, partly because the many springs in the chalk usually maintain a steady flow in summer. Salmon returned to the Thames in 1974. The river is spanned by 20 road and nine rail bridges between Hampton Court and the Tower of London. These include Tower Bridge (which has a drawbridge mechanism to enable large vessels to pass) and a suspension bridge at Hammersmith. The QEII Bridge opened in 1991 joins the counties of Essex and Kent.

The chief tunnels under the Thames are the Thames Tunnel, completed by Brunel in 1841, now used by the East London Line of the London Underground; the Blackwall Tunnel (1897) from East India Dock Road to East Greenwich, the Rotherhithe Tunnel (1918) from Shadwell to Rotherhithe, and the Dartford tunnel completed in 1963. There are regular boats from Kingston to Folly Bridge, Oxford, during the summer. There is some beautiful scenery along this part of the river, for example at Cliveden, Cookham, Sonning, and Pangbourne. There are fine bridges at Richmond, Hampton Court, Chertsey, Maidenhead, and Shillingford. Henley , Wallingford, Dorchester, Abingdon, Eton and Windsor are attractive. The Royal Regatta at Henly on Thames is one of the highlights of the British social calander.

Along the 80 km / 50 miles from its source beneath a tree in `Trewsbury Mead� to Oxford, the Thames glides through meadows, its course interrupted only by the small towns of Lechlade and Cricklade and the pretty stone-built hamlets of Kelmscott and Ashton Keynes. In these upper reaches there are two medieval bridges New Bridge and Radcot Bridge. Motor launches can reach Lechlade; beyond that point it is possible to canoe up to Cricklade, but the final 16 km / 10 miles to the source of the Thames is best done on foot. One particularly attractive section is the steep-sided valley through the chalk hills between Goring and Reading, known as the Goring Gap. Trent Third longest river of England; length 275 km / 170 miles. Rising in the south Pennines (at Norton in the Moors) by the Staffordshire-Cheshire border, it flows south and then northeast through Derbyshire, along the county boundary of Leicestershire, and through Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, joining the Ouse east of Goole to form the Humber estuary, and entering the North Sea below Spurn Head.

Its drainage basin covers more than 10,000 sq km / 4,000 sq miles. Main tributaries are the Churnet, Dove , and Derwent. It is navigable by barge for nearly 160 km / 100 miles. The principal towns and cities along its course are Burton upon Trent, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, and Newark. It is connected with other rivers and with the Birmingham and Lancashire districts by the Trent and Mersey Canal and the Grand Union Canal . The Trent valley includes extensive gravel workings and many electric power stations. Tweed River rising in the Tweedsmuir Hills, 10 km / 6 miles north of Moffat, southwest Scottish Borders, Scotland, and entering the North Sea at Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland; length 156 km / 97 miles. It flows in a northeasterly direction, and from Coldstream until near Berwick-upon-Tweed it forms the border between England and Scotland. It is the fourth longest river in Scotland and is one of the best salmon rivers.

Tyne River of northeast England formed by the union of the North Tyne (rising in the Cheviot Hills) and South Tyne (rising near Cross Fell in Cumbria) near Hexham, Northumberland, and reaching the North Sea at Tynemouth ; length 72 km / 45 miles. Kielder Water (1980) in the North Tyne Valley is Europe's largest artificial lake, 12 km / 7.5 miles long and 0.8 km / 0.5 miles wide, and supplies the industries of Tyneside, Wearside, and Teesside. As well as functioning as a reservoir, it is a major resource for recreational use. The principal tributary of the Tyne is the River Derwent , and the chief towns and cities along its course are Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Jarrow, and South Shields. Much of the Tyne basin lies within the Northumberland National Park. Along the lower reaches the Tyneside conurbation developed in the 19th century around shipyards, iron works, and chemical industries.

Tywi or Towy River in Carmarthenshire, southwest Wales; length 108 km / 68 miles It rises in the Cambrian Mountains of central Wales and flows southwest through Carmarthen before entering Carmarthen Bay. Ure River in North Yorkshire, northern England; length about 80 km / 50 miles. It rises 10 km / 6 miles northwest of Hawes, near the borders of Cumbria, and joins the River Swale near Boroughbridge to form the Ouse . Flowing through the spectacular Wensleydale countryside, the river drops dramatically at Aysgarth. Aysgarth Force is located alongside the A684 where a beautiful old single arched bridge spans the river close by. Wear River in northeast England; length 107 km / 67 miles. From its source near Wearhead in the Pennines in County Durham, it flows eastwards along a narrow valley, Weardale, to Bishop Auckland and then northeast past Durham and Chester-le-Street, to meet the North Sea at Sunderland. Weardale is moorland in its upper reaches at Stanhope and Wolsingham.

At Sunderland the Wear cuts a gorge 30 m / 98 ft deep through the local magnesian limestone plateau to reach the North Sea. The city of Durham is built along the Wear, and its castle and cathedral (a World Heritage site) stand 30 m / 100 ft above the river on an incised meander. Wye (Welsh Gwy) River in Wales and England; length 208 km / 130 miles. It rises on Plynlimon in northeast Ceredigion, flows southeast and east through Powys and Hereford and Worcester, and follows the Gwent-Gloucestershire border before joining the river Severn 4 km / 2.5 miles south of Chepstow. It has salmon fisheries and is noted for its scenery particularly at Symonds Yat. Wye River of central England; length 15 km / 9 miles. It rises in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire and flows in a southeasterly direction to Bourne End where it meets the Thames . Wye River in Derbyshire, central England; length 32 km / 20 miles.

It rises near Buxton and flows in a southeasterly direction to meet the Derwent at Rowsley. Geography of Scotland, Landforms - World Atlas Print this map Scotland Geography The rough and tumble landscape of Scotland was once covered by glaciers during the Pleistocene Ice Age. When those masses of ice retreated (or melted) they left in their wake a rocky, pockmarked landscape of mountains and rolling hills, dozens of deep lakes, cold water rivers and streams. The Northern Highlands are generally mountainous with many lofty peaks. This isolated area is widely considered one of the most scenic spots in Europe. The granite Grampian Mountains extend southwest to northeast, and include Scotland's (and the UK's) highest point, Ben Nevis, at 1,344 meters (4,409 ft). Scotland has nearly 800 islands. The major groups include the Inner and Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland; most are hilly and rugged. The Central Lowlands, a valley of sorts, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions, is a relatively flat area punctuated by hills.

The Southern Uplands is a hilly area with wide, green valleys, fronted in the south by the Cheviot Hills on the border with England. There are numerous bodies of inland freshwater including Loch Lomond and Loch Ness. The Tweed and Clyde are the largest rivers. People living on the England-Scotland border worry about a new dividing line | Public Radio International People living on the England-Scotland border worry about a new dividing line A river runs through it: The English-Scottish border has been peaceful for the last three centuries. Credit: Jeff J Mitchell BERWICK-UPON-TWEED, England — Sheep farmer Dougie Watkin ignores the lashing rain as he stands among his flock on a crest of land overlooking the river dividing England from Scotland. It’s a good spot to explain how a violent history has shaped life along the border. To the east loom the remains of Norham Castle, built in the 12th century to keep out the Scots, besieged 13 times and wrecked by Scottish artillery in 1513.

Below, Watkin points to fords across the river Tweed used by the Border Reivers, outlaw gangs that wreaked havoc along both sides of the frontier for generations. Just hidden by the mist to the west is the hilltop where Scotland's King James IV was hacked to death at the Battle of Flodden along with much of his army during a doomed 16th-century attempt to invade England. The beautiful rolling landscape here has been peaceful for almost 300 years. But Watkin fears life along the border may become a lot more complicated depending on the result of Scotland's September referendum on independence from Britain. "Once you create something separate like that, you really don't know what you're going to let out of the box," says the Englishman, who farms 900 acres of land spread across both sides of the frontier. "It's usually the things you never think about that creep up and bite you on the ankle," he adds.

"If you went into a situation where you had different tax regimes, different policing regimes, different employment regimes, it would be a nightmare." Border business is tricky Riders on horses take part in the Riding of the Bounds on May 1, 2014 in Berwick-Upon-Tweed, England. The annual event, in its 405th year, is a celebration of the traditional fifteen-mile ride to check the security of the boundaries of the town. (AFP/Getty Images) A Liberal Democrat Party councilor in the English border county of Northumberland, Watkin is particularly concerned about the prospect of trade restrictions if Scotland secedes. That, he fears, could seriously affect trans-border business, particularly for farmers like himself who regularly move livestock across the border. In the nearby town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, such worries are widespread. England's northernmost town has changed hands 13 times during its turbulent history. Today, the handsome coastal settlement of 13,000 sits within a ring of fortified walls built on the orders of Queen Elizabeth I as a 16th-century bulwark against the threat of Scottish incursions. Residents here often feel neglected by the rest of England.

Scotland's capital Edinburgh, just 55 miles away, is closer than the nearest English city. London lies some 340 miles to the south. The local soccer club, Berwick Rangers, is unique as an English team playing in the Scottish league. The great barrier Hadrian's Wall, which the Romans built to defend their British colony from the unconquered barbarians to the north, stands 65 miles to the south of Berwick. The sense of isolation has led many here to claim a distinct “borderer” identity that’s neither wholly English nor Scottish. "At the moment, we all get on great, we're borderers, it doesn't matter what side of the border you're on," says Brian Martin, who runs a guitar shop and cafe off the main street. "To suddenly redraw the border and split people up and have different prices and taxes, I just don't think it's a good thing." The risk to the local economy is a major concern in a region where cross-border commuting is the norm. Gordon Naysmith is a Scot who operates a butchers' stall selling haggis, Ayrshire bacon, Scotch pies and other Scottish delicacies at markets on both sides of the line.

He worries that having to deal with two national administrations will double the bureaucratic burden for small business. "We're struggling right now, is it going to make it worse?” he says while doing a brisk trade at the Saturday morning market in Berwick's main street. “Is it going to put businesses further down the scale again and make things more difficult for them? Better the devil you know than the devil you don't." The Scottish government, which is leading the independence campaign, says it would keep the British pound and leave the frontier open to unrestricted trade. British officials warn matters may not be so simple. And the European Union has cautioned that an independent Scotland would have to reapply for membership, adding to fears that free passage across the border could be limited. "If they bring in this stupid thing about the border and having controls ... there are people to-ing and fro-ing to work, how are they going to get backwards and forwards?" says Edinburgh-born Englishman John Marshall, who sells flowers at Berwick market. “That's not going to work.” What will change? Farming in Berwick-Upon-Tweed. England's most northern town awaits the outcome in Scotland's referendum vote happening on Sept. 18. (AFP/Getty Images) Concerns go beyond the economic.

Health worker Caroline Douglas, a Scot who works in England, lives a mile south of the border but sends her children to school in Scotland. "There's also a lot of rumors about: will you need your passports?" she says. "We cross the border at least eight times a day, so that would be a bit of an issue." North of the border, pro-independence campaigners are striving to allay such doubts. They accuse unionist opponents of whipping up unwarranted fears. "Life will continue exactly as we know it," insists Kenny MacAskill, justice secretary in the Scottish government. "Border posts are coming down all over Europe," he says during an interview in the central Scottish city of Livingstone. "The day after independence, it will be the same currency, it will be the same crown that will remain, there will be no border posts. The difference is decisions on all issues will be made here in Scotland that matter to the Scottish people." As an example, MacAskill points to the free passage between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. He says that Scotland with its oil and gas reserves will be a bigger trading partner for what's left of the United Kingdom than Brazil or Russia — so London will have no interest in erecting barriers.

Some borderers agree. James Cook runs a multimillion-dollar business exporting Scotland's renowned seafood from just north of the border in the little fishing port of Eyemouth. He's campaigning for a "yes" vote in the Sept. 18 referendum even though his trucks laden with lobsters and langoustines must cross the English border to reach their principal markets in mainland Europe. "We're on the front line, so anything will impact very heavily on us," Cook acknowledges, but adds that the fishing industry would welcome having a government closer to home. "It will be more directed at our coastal communities ... decision-making in Scotland, based on what is happening on the ground, will be very beneficial for us." More from GlobalPost: 700 years on, Scotland is still debating independence from England Although Cook admits that a transition would be complicated, he's confident politicians on both sides of the border will see a common interest in resolving any trade, tax and currency issues. If they can't, some over the border in Berwick see a radical solution. More than 60 percent of voters in the town would support returning to Scottish rule, according to a 2008 poll organized by Britain's ITV television network.

Brian Martin, the guitar-shop owner, wants to go further. He's set up an independence for Berwick-upon-Tweed campaign. "It's turned from being a total tongue-in-cheek joke thing into something people are really keen to support," he says. There could be one big disincentive, however. Local legend has it that an anomaly in a 19th-century peace treaty means that Berwick is technically still at war with Russia. Given Moscow's current bellicose mood, standing alone might not seem like such a good idea. While you are here... The work we do has never been more important — whether it’s because of “news” that might not be news at all or healing the deep divides in our country. Now more than ever, we need conversation, perspective and diverse voices. Will you support PRI in our efforts to create a more informed empathetic world?

Question: Which river forms much of the border between England and Scotland?
Answer: Tweed