Gordon Moss

Gordon Moss is a nature reserve near Gordon in the Scottish Borders, on what was once a much larger stretch of moss-land. It lies one mile west of Gordon village, south of the Gordon–Earlston road. The site is a fragment of the low-lying ground that once stretched from Earlston past Gordon towards Greenlaw. Drainage schemes long ago turned most of this land to farm fields, leaving Gordon Moss as one of the few remaining semi-natural moss areas in the region.

The moss is recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, monitored by NatureScot. It supports sixteen species of butterfly and over two hundred species of moth. In 1882 a workman found a flint axehead here, measuring 150 millimetres by 50 millimetres. Local tradition tells of the Gordon Gowks, lads who lured invaders into the bog to save their village. Parts of the moss still carry old rights held by local feuars.

Visitors find quiet tracks winding through the reserve, though some areas remain deep and boggy. Water levels are lower than in the past, making walking easier but still requiring strong footwear. Adders live here, so care is needed. The Scottish Wildlife Trust works with part of the site, while the rest is left largely undisturbed. The old Berwickshire Railway once entered the moss, adding a touch of history to the landscape.