West Tweeddale Parishes

Forthcoming Events:

Gaelic Psalm Singing (18/02/2025 - Tue)

Are you interested in learning to sing Psalms in Gaelic?  Rob MacNeacail leads a session in Carlops Church on a Tuesday evening from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. No prior knowledge of Gaelic is needed as the lyrics are learned phonetically. You can email Rob at or just drop by one of the sessions. 

Lamancha Community Cafe (19/02/2025 - Wed)

The community cafe run by Lamancha Community Hub is open every Wednesday from 10 am till 2pm and if it's nice weather you can sit outside.

Carlops Cuppa and Company (20/02/2025 - Thu)

Every Thursday afternoon, Carlops Church from 2pm until 4pm houses an informal tea and chat session.  No need to book; come at any time; stay as long as you like; enjoy the company of friends and neighbours.

Community CoSY Coffee Afternoon (21/02/2025 - Fri)

Our hours are 2pm to 4pm on Fridays, at the Old Church Hall in West Linton. Come along for a chat, cuppa, company and cake! Everyone very welcome, although under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult. Free of charge although donations welcome but not expected. More information from Kate Whalley.

Open Gate Counselling Service (21/02/2025 - Fri)

The Open Gate

The Open Gate counselling service started up in 2019 with financial help from the Church of Scotland’s Go For It Fund, and had been available on Friday afternoons in Newlands Centre, Romanno Bridge for appointments, proving useful for helping a range of problems. As you know, since the onset of Covid, it has continued only as a telephone appointment service which was available throughout the week.

Following discussion at our latest Kirk Session meeting, it was agreed that The Open Gate should continue again back in Newlands Centre on Friday afternoons for face-to-face appointments for a trial period of a few months, and this will start up on a weekly basis from 1st September. Early appointments will be arranged by phoning or texting 07535 898 244

Please make the most of this opportunity!

Use it for yourself or suggest it to friends. Everyone has some sort of problem in their life that could be helped in a relaxed and pleasant way. Sessions remain free and confidential and the client decides when their problem has been helped – often after only 1 session. Some problems can’t be changed eg death of a loved one, physical impairment etc, but folk can be helped to cope more happily with these issues.

Baby Brunch (21/02/2025 - Fri)

Baby brunch is resuming in West Linton on Friday 26th August in the Old Church Hall on the Lower Green during school term time. This is for parents, grandparents, carers or childminders with babies and/or young toddlers.

Baby brunch provides a warm and welcoming place to come to meet and chat with others and to get to know more people in the village. It also provides the opportunity for children to play and socialise.

Carlops Drop-In Coffee (22/02/2025 - Sat)

There is a coffee drop-in meeting in Carlops Church on the last Saturday of every month, from 10.30am to 12 noon. Everyone is invited: come and drink coffee, eat scones and cake, chat, enjoy good company. There is no charge, but donations are invited, for pandemic depleted Church funds initially.

The organisers welcome any help you can offer: moving chairs and tables before and after the event; providing scones, cake, biscuits;serving tables. If you can help from time to time, contact Mary Levison or Mary McElroy. Contact details can be found at the bottom of the July 2022 Carlops Church newsletter.

Wanderings (22/02/2025 - Sat)

Wanderings is a new project being run in partnership with the Church of Scotland parish of Upper Tweeddale. We have an initial plan to meet twice a month, once on a Saturday afternoon and once on Thursday or Wednesday mornings followed by an option to join in a community cuppa. If you would like to join a Wander just turn up at Broughtonknowe woods main carpark with warm, waterproof clothing and stout boots with good grip.

The wandering for Saturday 22nd February starts at 2.30pm.

Some of the routes are a little steep, rough and muddy. We will be back to the car park within an hour and a half. There are composting toilets on site. If you have any additional, needs, questions or need a lift (car sharing encouraged) get in touch. Anyone under 18y needs a responsible adult with them.

Contemplative Prayer Inspired by Julian of Norwich (03/03/2025 - Mon)

Come and Pray with us. Join us on the first Monday of the month at 9.45 am in the small meetihg room at the back of Broughton Village Hall (entry by the ramp next to the entrance to the car park). Each session lasts one hour and includes prayer and discussion.

For the next few months we will be praying for the future of Broughton Kirk using contemplative prayer inspired by Julian of Norwich. The next meeting is on Monday 6th January.

Broughton Bite 'n' Blether (05/03/2025 - Wed)

Organised by Upper Tweeddale Community Council, this is held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month from 10 o’clock till midday. Come along to Broughton Village Hall for a hot roll, home baking and tea/coffee. Suggested £3 donation. All welcome

Gathering at Whim Care Centre (05/03/2025 - Wed)

A short, informal little service to be held in the Whim Care Centre on the 1st Wednesday of the month. St Mungos folk have been doing this on the 2nd and 4th weeks. Interested Whim residents are drawn together in the lounge area and have been enjoying this time together.

Margaret Habeshaw will likely be taking her keyboard for some cheerful hymns, but we are in need of folk to lead the singing and we are hoping that we can be joined by one or two from our churches to help with this. Entrance is by the door down the slope at the side of the building. We will be starting at 2 pm, for a service perhaps lasting 30 minutes and we will likely be offered a cup of tea later.”

Wanderings (06/03/2025 - Thu)

Wanderings is a new project being run in partnership with the Church of Scotland parish of Upper Tweeddale. We have an initial plan to meet twice a month, once on a Saturday afternoon and once on Thursday or Wednesday mornings followed by an option to join in a community cuppa. If you would like to join a Wander just turn up at Broughtonknowe woods main carpark with warm, waterproof clothing and stout boots with good grip.

The wandering for Thursday 6th March starts at 10.30am and is followed by lunch at Skirling Village Hall.

Some of the routes are a little steep, rough and muddy. We will be back to the car park within an hour and a half. There are composting toilets on site. If you have any additional, needs, questions or need a lift (car sharing encouraged) get in touch. Anyone under 18y needs a responsible adult with them.

Carlops Soup Lunch (12/03/2025 - Wed)

This is held in Carlops Church on the second Wednesday of every month throughput the Winter (except December) until further notice. Times are 12noon to 1.30pm. The first event is on Wednesday 13 September 2023 and the last in April 2024.

There is no charge, but charitable donations are invited. There is no need to book; just turn up; take a cup or choose your soup; drink, eat and chat. As regulars know, places are limited and it can get busy; an early appearance may be the wise strategy

Skirling Lunch Club (13/03/2025 - Thu)

For one day each month the Skirling Community hosts lunch in the Skirling Village Hall. Anyone is welcome to come along. This is held on the second Thursday of every month at 12:30.

Our Village Talks in Carlops - Love Plants? (14/03/2025 - Fri)

Our Village Talks
Monthly talks and a chance to chat

Hosted by Carlops Church

We are delighted to announce a programme of monthly talks drawing on expert speakers from
the community of Carlops and the wider world.  We aim to bring you talks of interest and
relevance to our neighbourhood and beautiful surroundings, as well as a chance to chat and
enjoy a cup of tea or coffee.  Talks will take place at 7.30pm on the second Friday of each
month.  Suggested donation of £5 to attend a talk.

2025 events

Friday l4th February, 7.30 pm   Can we slow ageing?   
Professor Tara Spires-Jones will present on developments in understanding the brain and
reversing neurodegeneration. 
 
Friday 14th March, 7.30 pm  Love Plants?
Rona Dodds will talk about creating Quercus Garden Plants, a beautiful garden centre at
Macbiehill which specialises in hardy plants for our Pentland Hills climate.

Friday 11th April, 7.30 pm  The Philosophy of Rudolf Steiner   
Colin Third and colleagues will talk about the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner and how his gentle
approach influences the care of adults with learning disability who live at Garvald West Linton.  
 
…….Please watch this space for more events throughout 2025.

Raising funds for Malawi

As well as bringing you evenings of interest, we hope to raise funds for local charities
and for Malawi.  The country has faced famine and food insecurity in recent months.  
We are hoping to raise funds towards a kitchen space and two pit latrines as a
contribution to a village hall.  The hall will be used for early years learning and for
vaccination programmes for children.  We will present a visual display of our progress
with fundraising efforts to keep you updated.

Messy Church - The Seed and the Sower (16/03/2025 - Sun)

Messy Church will be starting again this winter on the following Sundays:

Sunday 24 November – Zaccheus
Sunday 15 December – Christmas
Sunday 19 January – The House Built on Rock
Sunday 9 February – Lost and Found
Sunday 16 March – The Seed and the Sower

Sessions start at 4pm prompt in the New Church Hall at West Linton and finish at 6pm.

All children from babies to P7 are most welcome to come and join in the fun!

We will start with a Bible Story and then the children will do a range of craft activities, followed by a song and a prayer and finish off with a meal together. All children MUST be accompanied by an adult.

Please do consider joining us for an afternoon of fun activities and a family meal together.

For more information contact Jean Howat (01968 660677)

Wanderings (29/03/2025 - Sat)

Wanderings is a new project being run in partnership with the Church of Scotland parish of Upper Tweeddale. We have an initial plan to meet twice a month, once on a Saturday afternoon and once on Thursday or Wednesday mornings followed by an option to join in a community cuppa. If you would like to join a Wander just turn up at Broughtonknowe woods main carpark with warm, waterproof clothing and stout boots with good grip.

The wandering for Saturday 29th March starts at 2.30pm.

Some of the routes are a little steep, rough and muddy. We will be back to the car park within an hour and a half. There are composting toilets on site. If you have any additional, needs, questions or need a lift (car sharing encouraged) get in touch. Anyone under 18y needs a responsible adult with them.

Crescendos and Wednesday Choirs at Newlands Church (29/03/2025 - Sat)

There will be a concert on Saturday 29 March at 7pm in Newlands Church featuring Crescendos and Wednesday Choirs. Tickets cost £5 in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and are available from Jean Howat and Newlands elders. Tea, coffee and cakes included in the interval.

Our Village Talks in Carlops - The Philosophy of Rudolf Steiner (11/04/2025 - Fri)

Our Village Talks
Monthly talks and a chance to chat

Hosted by Carlops Church

We are delighted to announce a programme of monthly talks drawing on expert speakers from
the community of Carlops and the wider world.  We aim to bring you talks of interest and
relevance to our neighbourhood and beautiful surroundings, as well as a chance to chat and
enjoy a cup of tea or coffee.  Talks will take place at 7.30pm on the second Friday of each
month.  Suggested donation of £5 to attend a talk.

2025 events

Friday l4th February, 7.30 pm   Can we slow ageing?   
Professor Tara Spires-Jones will present on developments in understanding the brain and
reversing neurodegeneration. 
 
Friday 14th March, 7.30 pm  Love Plants?
Rona Dodds will talk about creating Quercus Garden Plants, a beautiful garden centre at
Macbiehill which specialises in hardy plants for our Pentland Hills climate.

Friday 11th April, 7.30 pm  The Philosophy of Rudolf Steiner   
Colin Third and colleagues will talk about the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner and how his gentle
approach influences the care of adults with learning disability who live at Garvald West Linton.  
 
…….Please watch this space for more events throughout 2025.

Raising funds for Malawi

As well as bringing you evenings of interest, we hope to raise funds for local charities
and for Malawi.  The country has faced famine and food insecurity in recent months.  
We are hoping to raise funds towards a kitchen space and two pit latrines as a
contribution to a village hall.  The hall will be used for early years learning and for
vaccination programmes for children.  We will present a visual display of our progress
with fundraising efforts to keep you updated.
© 2025 West Tweeddale Parishes
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