The above map was taken from an album called O'er the Border by the Scots piper, Gordon Mooney which can be purchased on-line.
Highlighted in greeen are the towns of interest in the Forsyth family history. In the notes from this album the following is included under the title of a tune called The Highway to Linton:
'The Highway to Linton is the old drove road that crosses the Pentlands from West Linton to the
Catslackburn and was formerly the main route for cattle droving down from the Highlands
through the Borders to English markets. The introduction of the improved 'Linton' breed of
sheep from the Border uplands into the Highlands of Scotalnd brought to an end the droving
trades, and also led to the Highland Clearances and their dire social consequences.'
It is thought that Helen Scott was from Catslackburn nearYarrow. Perhaps she met James Forsyth who was from the West Linton area because this was a well-travelled route between the two areas.
Several other tunes on this album mention Yarrow - The Flower O'Yarrow written about a Mary Scott
and published in 1687 - Willie's Drowned in Yarrow from 1733
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