Traquair House

We visited here a few years ago and always said we would return. The brewery had just set up then but seems to have gone from strength to strength. The house is intriguing, not over restored, everyone was very friendly and welcoming, especially the lady on the door who had a few anecdotes regarding the maze. The gardens were very busy, including a group of actors staging Macbeth! All in all very interesting! Definitely a must see!

Enjoyed a night here, and it was a lovely experience! A real treat to stay in such a historic building. Loved the view from our room out over the maze - worth climbing the spiral staircase to the room! Also lovely to relax in the Drawing Room which is next to the other two guest rooms on the ground floor. Breakfast was very relaxed, and made with quality produce - so very tasty. Lucy, the housekeeper, looked after us really well, and the team of guides were lovely and knowledgeable as we looked around the house. The grounds are full of wildlife and good for walks.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I had a fantastic visit to Traquair House yesterday — truly a hidden gem in the Borders. The house itself is absolutely steeped in history, with beautifully preserved rooms and fascinating stories around every corner. Did you know that Glasgow market charter was created here, which lead to development of the village, town then city! You really get a sense of stepping back in time (though thankfully without the drafty rooms and powdered wigs). The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, happy to share anecdotes and answer questions, which made the experience even more engaging. After exploring the house and grounds, I stopped at the café, which was an absolute delight. I had a pulled pork bun with a fresh salad — it was delicious and hit the spot perfectly. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, just what you need after a good wander. All in all, Traquair House is a wonderful day out. Highly recommended for anyone interested in history, beautiful surroundings, and a tasty lunch to top it all off!

Stunning place and amazing guides throughout the estate. We felt very welcome and the cafe food was also lovely. Great history and gorgeous location. Fabulous day out with the kids! The grounds were immaculate and there was great trails and the maze was excellent. Great experience all in & worth every penny!

A lived-in and amazingly preserved Scottish tower house, well worth the visit from, say, Edinburgh. The rooms are filled with artefacts of interest, the gardens and scenery are beautiful and the atmosphere is great. Oh, and the standard of the food in the café is very high indeed.

Visited Traquair House once again as we live locally. It is an absolute essential visit for any tourist or locals. The house, chapel, brewery, shop, garden and maze are fantastic. The cafe is absolutely superb with fresh produce. The Cullen Skink is heavenly and the year pass is more than worth it..

A fascinating place, remarkably unchanged since the 18th century. Clearly still a family home which adds to the charm. Loads of rooms open to the public which means there is so much to see. My wife went a couple of years ago with our daughters and absolutely loved it. So my expectations were high but ended up being exceeded. All the guides were helpful and interesting but a special shout out to Ian who entertained us for ages with stories about the house and its occupants. Didn't have time to spend enough time in the grounds, which looked lovely, so will definitely be back.

My daughter and I throughly enjoyed our stay at Traquair House. Lucy greeted us upon arrival, look great care of us and prepared wonderful English breakfasts. Our room in the home had a wonderful view overlooking the fun maze, hills and rhododendrons. Walking the trails by the river and the gardens were a treat! Touring the home at our leisure and the evening we spent relaxing by the fire place won't be forgotten.We also met a lovely Australian couple who we enjoyed dining beside and sharing travel stories!

A medieval event at Traquair House! This weekend we visited a medieval fayre with a Jousting tournament, Falconry Display (of which the falcon flew away and did not return - for what I know), various minstrels singing medieval aged songs, performers informing us about various crafts and an enthusiastic executioner giving me an earful of stories about various torture instruments. What can I say: "Am I glad, I live today"! We also tried our expertise in Long Bow Archery and my arm can still feel some pain. Well, it was worth it! The house is the center point of the area and dates back to 1107 when it was used as a hunting lodge for the Kings and Queens of Scotland. In 1491 it was given to James Stuart, who became the first Laird of Traquair, and remained since then in the same family. It was renovated in the late 90's and its outer walls are painted white. You would not think that this place is so old, except if you look at the occasional dodgy windows. The inside is well maintained. There is a dressing room, library, priest room (which was a secret room during the catholic unrest), kings and queens room, main drawing room, dolls room with a fantastic doll house on display, as well as some scary looking porcelain dolls from various countries.You can also find some of the Jacobite and other relics in the museum, which were used by Mary Queen of Scots and her son James, like the baby cradle. At the entrance you will find locked gates, which won't be unlocked until a Stuart will be back on the throne once more! And not to forget the maze - best one I have ever conquered. The place has its own brewery and sells Ale's. Its open all year: Daily from 29th March - 14th April 2013; 1st May - 31st October 2013 The next fayre takes place end of July and projects the hippy 60's. Why not have some outdoor fun!

A wonderful tour, gardens, BEER, garden maze, animals for the kids. Fantastic place to picnic and visit seeing some wonderful history and heritage. A family favorite!