Discover traquair

There are few places in the Borders – or possibly the country – that boast the history and charm of Scotland’s oldest continually inhabited house

Originally a royal hunting lodge, Traquair has been home to the Stuarts since 1491, with the family managing to remain Catholics and Jacobites largely without counting the cost – even during the most turbulent of times!

The historic house has welcomed 27 Kings and Queens over the centuries, including one of history’s most captivating figures, Mary, Queen of Scots. Traquair still houses many items related to the queen’s visit in 1566, including her four-poster bed and the cradle where she rocked her infant son, later to be James VI of Scotland and I of England.

Alongside the actual royalty, Traquair has also been blessed by literary royalty over the years. A travelling Robert Burns visited Innerleithen and Traquair on his grand tour of Scotland in 1787, and Sir Walter Scott – just a teenager when Burns passed through – would go on to be a regular visitor to the house.

It is believed that Scott drew great inspiration from Traquair for his fictional estate of Tully Veolan, the home of the Baron Bradwardine and his daughter in Waverley. Reading his description of the castle’s grand entrance, it’s impossible not to picture the iconic Bear Gates at the top of Traquair’s main drive – closed in 1745 following Bonnie Prince Charlie’s visit and vowed never to be reopened until the Stuarts returned to the throne.

There are treasures to be found in the estate’s gorgeous grounds, too. A giant beech-hedged maze, craft workshops, a walled garden (spot the peacocks!), café and even a celebrated brewery, all add to Traquair’s unrivalled charm. A visit to the mysterious yew tree circle near the banks of the Quair Water – believed to be up to one thousand years old – is another year-round highlight.

Look out for Traquair’s outstanding programme of events and festivals across the year, from an atmospheric Medieval Fayre to the ever-important Beyond Borders International Festival. There’s even a special day out for dogs and owners every summer!

Further info

If you fancy living like Scottish royalty yourself, you can always stay in one of Traquair’s luxurious, antique-furnished rooms on a bed and breakfast basis. For larger groups preferring to self-cater, nearby Howford House sleeps 18 in a classical Georgian-style farmhouse. It has an enviable position overlooking the River Tweed and is only a 10-minute stroll to Traquair itself.

Photo credits: Ian Linton; Traquair