Traquair House

Additional Features

Bed & Breakfast
Garden
Tea & coffee in room
Breakfast Room
Full Scottish breakfast
Vegetarian breakfast
Off-road parking
Currently Occupied
Guide in attendance
Maze
Scottish Heritage
Visitor Centre
Fishing
Gardens
Walking

Description

TRAQUAIR HOUSE

Innerleithen, Peeblesshire

Less than an hour from Edinburgh, Traquair is situate in the Scottish Borders amidst beautiful scenery and close by the River Tweed. It is the oldest continually lived in house in Scotland and has been visited by 27 Scottish kings and queens.

Originally a royal hunting lodge, it was owned by the Scottish crown until 1478 when it passed to a branch of the Royal Stuart family whose descendants still live in the house today. Nearly ten centuries of Scottish political and domestic life can be traced from the collections in the house.

The Stuarts of Traquair were Catholics and Jacobites which led to them being fined, isolated and imprisoned for their beliefs yet they continued to uphold their principles without counting the cost.

In 1566 Mary Queen of Scots visited Traquair on a hunting expedition with her husband Darnley and you can see the bed where she slept and the cradle where she rocked her infant son James.

In the eighteenth century the Earls of Traquair supported the Jacobites and in 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie visited Traquair when he was stationed in Edinburgh. The Earl of Traquair promised his support and as Charles left he closed the Bear Gates at the end of the main drive promising they would not be reopened until a Stuart was returned to the throne. The gates remain closed to this day.

Traquair is also well known for its strong ales produced in the brewery which lies in one of the wings of the house. This eighteenth century domestic brewery was disused in the early 1800’s and became a repository for family junk. It was rediscovered by Peter Maxwell Stuart in the early 1960’s and brought back into production in 1965. The traditional strong ales that are produced here are all fermented in the ancient oak vessels and are exported all over the world. You can sample them at Traquair in the Brewery shop and museum.

For children Traquair offers a wealth of activities with wonderful woodlands and a large hedged maze which covers half an acre and is the setting for the biggest easter egg hunt in the Borders!

Up in the old walled garden you can discover the 1745 Cottage Restaurant serving delicious home cooked lunches and teas and in the old outbuildings there are four independently run craft workshops selling leatherwork, jewellery, woodwork and children’s clothes.

Traquair also hosts a vibrant programme of summer events that includes a Medieval Fayre (24-25 May) a Mini Tattoo (Sun 1st June) the Traquair Fair (2-3rd August) and Traquair Halloween Experience (24- 26th October).
Traquair is open in 2008 on the following dates:
March 21st – 24th. Weekends in April. Daily from 1st May – 31st October.
Times: 12.00pm – 5.00pm and in June, July and August from10.30am – 5.00pm.

For full information about the house and what’s on have a look at our website