Padel hits the Borders in a converted farm barn

The sport of padel is growing in popularity in the UK

The sport of padel has got its first home in the Scottish Borders - in a converted barn on a farm.

Archie Stewart and his wife Alex returned to the region just before the Covid pandemic and were surprised to find the sport had not really taken off in Scotland.

They decided to convert a barn at his parents' farm in the village of Ednam, near Kelso, and Archie said they had quickly found a big demand for the sport described as a cross between tennis and squash.

He added that as a small organic farm they had "always had to diversify".

"This kind of thing fits quite nicely with the tourism business we're creating, while also bringing a new sport to people in the Borders," he said.

"I first came across padel about 18 years ago when I was coaching tennis in Spain, and all my friends were playing - it was a great social game.

"But when I came back to live in the UK there were hardly any courts."

However, he said that was no longer the case.

A barn on the farm has ben converted into a padel court

"In the last three to five years it has started to grow across the UK, with a lot now in Yorkshire and in the big cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester, but there's been nothing in the Scottish Borders," he said.

"So, we thought it would be great to bring it to local people, but also for tourism and people visiting the region."

In its first few weeks, it has developed a growing following.

"At the weekend we had Kelso rugby club, who didn't have a game, and their players had a blast, and we've had football clubs and a tennis club using it, but we've also had lots of non-sports people coming and giving it a go," said Archie.

"I was coaching kids aged four to eight the other day, and I've had people in their 60s and 70s.

"The beauty of it is it's a far more accessible sport.

"It's not as difficult as tennis, or as exhausting as squash, but it's got the best of both, and you have fun."