Traquair House, Peeblesshire, United Kingdom

Traquair House is claimed to be the oldest continually inhabited house in Scotland. Whilst not strictly a castle, it is built in the style of a fortified mansion. It pre-dates the Scottish Baronial style of architecture, and may have been one of the influences on this style. The estate contains the famous Traquair Brewery.

The house is built on the site of a hunting seat used by the Scottish kings from the 12th century, though no part of the present building can be dated with certainty before the 15th century. Alexander I was the first Scottish king to stay and hunt at Traquair.

Over the next two centuries Traquair's ownership changed often, at times coming under the control of the English, and at others, the Scottish throne. Traquair remained the family seat of the Earls of Traquair from 1491 for the next four centuries.

Traquair is a 50-room house mainly dating from teh 16th-19th centuries. There is a Roman Catholic chapel built in 1829, following the Catholic emancipation. The 18th-century library contains more than 3,000 volumes. Although three lairds made alterations to the house prior to the 17th century, Traquair has changed little, architecturally, since then.

References:

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User Reviews

Ali Jack (42 days ago)
We visited Traquair House for the day, the main draw card being the hedge maze - we are from Australia so don't see them much, and it was my dream to get lost in one... and we did! But we found so much more on offer there as well... So much history to absorb, beautiful grounds and outbuildings, ancient trees, super friendly and knowledgeable staff, it was an amazing day out for adults & kids alike. Have already told everyone how amazing it is, definitely recommend!

Joseph Figueira (2 months ago)
Interesting and historic house. With a nice homely feel. The shop is well stocked including with the Traquair beer. The cafe is exceptional everything is delicious and fresh.

Katie Birger (2 months ago)
We visited the house and grounds. The house is a wonderful place to explore. It has a historic and very personal feel. The grounds and hedge maze are really lovely, and we enjoyed browsing in the artisan shops.

Paul Levy (4 months ago)
We so loved our stay at Traquair House. The location is beautiful and quiet. We loved the bird life and the sounds of nature. The room was so comfortable and the kind, friendly service allowed for a wonderful stay. The history of Traquair House we found fascinating.

Anthony Derda-Rizzuto (5 months ago)
We were primarily there to visit the Maze, which did not disappoint. However we were very surprised by the experience offered in Traquair House itself. It was full of rich history and artifacts, providing loads of information. The walk around the grounds was also very beautiful, with everything in full bloom. The very best part was the fountain of knowledge that is Pat! She knew such an impressive amount of information and was so gracious and kind in her interactions, that we would go back again just to speak to her!

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