Traquair House
Traquair House in the Scottish Borders near Innerleithen is the oldest continuously inhabited house in Scotland, a distinction it has held since at least the twelfth century and arguably longer. The house has associations with almost every significant figure in Scottish history over a period spanning nearly a millennium: it was a royal hunting lodge for the kings of Scotland, it harboured Mary Queen of Scots and the infant James VI, it sheltered Bonnie Prince Charlie during the 1745 Jacobite Rising, and it was the seat of the Maxwell Stuart family for 500 years and counting. The building presents a long, whitewashed south front to the visitor that combines elements from several centuries of construction into a whole that feels organically unified rather than architecturally contrived. The oldest surviving fabric dates from the sixteenth century, though the house incorporates structures from earlier periods, and the various extensions and modifications made over the centuries have accumulated in the way of a genuinely lived-in house rather than a formally planned architectural composition. The famous Bear Gates at the end of the avenue approaching the house were locked by the fifth Earl of Traquair in 1745 after the departure of Bonnie Prince Charlie, with a vow that they would remain closed until a Stuart king sat on the British throne once more. The gates remain closed to this day, and the avenue leading to them is now unused, the house approached from a different direction. This romantic gesture and its long-maintained legacy give Traquair a particular atmosphere of Jacobite melancholy that is entirely appropriate to its history. The house contains a remarkable collection of historic artefacts including a crucifix and rosary that belonged to Mary Queen of Scots, Jacobite memorabilia and a library of considerable age. The brew house in the grounds, in continuous operation since at least the 1500s and producing traditional ales that are sold on site and nationally, provides a genuinely historic artisan experience alongside the house tour. The walled garden, maze and woodland walks make Traquair a rewarding destination for a full day's visit.