Hare and Dunhog Mosses

Hare and Dunhog Mosses is a nature reserve near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. It sits in the former Selkirkshire, a quiet corner of southern Scotland. Two small lochs lie at its heart, Hare Moss and Dunhog Moss, separated by only a short stretch of land. The reserve covers low-lying ground where peat has built up over centuries. Heather and cotton grass grow across the bog, giving the landscape a soft purple hue in summer. Sphagnum moss carpets the wetter areas, holding water like a sponge. The site is recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its rare plants and insects. Bog rosemary and cranberry grow here, plants that need acid, peaty soil. Large heath butterflies flutter over the bog in summer, while dragonflies patrol the loch edges. The reserve protects one of the last intact lowland bogs in the region. Its undisturbed peat layers hold records of past climate and vegetation going back thousands of years. Visitors walk a short path that loops around Hare Moss. A boardwalk keeps feet dry while crossing the bog. From the loch’s edge, views stretch across the flat mosslands to distant hills. The air smells of damp earth and heather. Birdsong from skylarks and meadow pipits fills the quiet. On still days, the water reflects the sky, turning the whole scene into a mirror of blue and green.