Geographically the region is hilly in the south, west and north, with the River Tweed flowing west to east through the region. The east of the region is primarily flat sometimes with isolated small groups of hills. The Tweed and its tributaries drain the entire region with the river flowing into the North Sea at Berwick-upon-Tweed, and forming the border with England for the last twenty miles or so of its length.
Historically the region was formed from four counties Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire, Selkirkshire and Berwickshire. Roxburghshire and Berwickshire historically bore the brunt of war with England, both during declared wars such as the Wars of Scottish Independence, and low level conflict as in the times of the Reivers. Thus across the region are the ruins of many castles, abbeys and even towns.
Towns and villages