Mark Nicol
Historian – Filmmaker – Blogger –
Guided Tours – Group Speaker
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About Discover Scottish Borders

Discover Scottish Borders is an independent platform exploring the rich heritage, legends, landscapes, and wildlife of the Anglo-Scottish borderlands. Created and hosted by Mark Nicol, the project blends storytelling with historical research, aiming to uncover the myths, forgotten places, and incredible history of the Scottish Borders and beyond.
The website and accompanying social media streams are for everyone with a connection to the Borders — whether you live here, have visited, dream of visiting, or have ancestral roots in this beautiful and historically significant region.
While today’s Scottish Borders refers to the council area established in 1975, Discover Scottish Borders takes a broader historical approach — spanning Roxburghshire, Berwickshire, Dumfriesshire, and into the English counties of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland. This wider region has seen everything from Roman strongholds and Pictish tribes to pivotal battles and infamous Border Reivers.
Mark’s journey began with a simple love for exploring local sites and sharing video diaries with a bit of fun and personality. As interest grew, so did the mission. When the Borders Railway was nearing completion, Mark created a video series tailored to visitors arriving in Galashiels and Tweedbank, highlighting local walks, landmarks, and hidden gems. These videos quickly resonated with viewers around the world — from the USA to Australia — many with ancestral ties to the Borders.
Today, Mark has created nearly 200 original videos, each telling a unique story. His work has led to collaborations, speaking engagements, private tours, and even a feature segment on BBC Scotland, where he brought the tale of the Border Reivers to life. In 2018, Mark was proud to be a finalist for the Visit Scotland: Scottish Thistle Award as a Regional Ambassador – the Oscars of Scottish tourism.
All of this is done in Mark’s spare time, driven by pure passion and a deep love for the region.
Discover Scottish Borders continues to grow, inspiring fellow creators, bloggers, and YouTubers to share their own explorations. It has become a hub of local knowledge, storytelling, and community connection — encouraging people to visit, learn, and fall in love with this remarkable part of the world.
Whether you’re tracing family roots, planning a trip, or just fascinated by the Borders’ incredible past — there’s always something new to discover.
More Of My Work
What Else Do I Do?
Day and Extended Tours
I operate day tours and extended tours originating in the Scottish Borders and outreaching to the rest of Scotland & parts of England to tell the tales of the Anglo-Scots Borderlands
The Itinerary is customised to aid history buffs, spiritual seekers, family heritage research and general appreciation of the Scottish Borders beautiful landscapes and rolling hills


Group Speaking
I am also available to provide talks for groups who are interested in the history of the Borders Region
As you can see, Mark has a real passion for the unknown and forgotten history and presents his videos in a unique way to engage an audience and bring a fun way of keeping the Borders Spirit alive”
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