Traquair
Gaelic Tre – hamlet and quair – a winding river. Confluence of Quair and Tweed.
Oldest continuously inhabited house in Scotland. Origins in a royal hunting lodge of c. 950AD. In its time 27 kings and queens have visited the house.
During the wars of independanceTraquair was turned into a peel tower and was briefly occupied by the English. It has been owned by the same family since 1491 when it was given to James Stewart, 1st Laird of Traquair.
The Bear Gates were installed by the 5th Earl in 1738 but were only used for 6 years for legend has it that after Bonnie Prince Charlie visited in 1745 the Laird closed the Bear gates and said they should only be opened once a Stuart is again on the throne.
The house stands in woodland, much of which was panted in the 19th century but the trees many come to see are the Yew trees. They are some of the oldest in Scotland and thought to have been part of the old Ettrick forest.
In 1965 the then Laird renovated the 18th century brewhouse which lies beneath the private chapel. It originally only produced beer for the estate, but now produces 600-700 barrels a year. The Bear ale, Traquair ale etc. are available locally.