Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 27 on 09/06/2006.

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Royalty's sporting headquarters

Charles Douglas visits Traquair House which, it is sometimes claimed, is the oldest inhabited house in Scotland

The lands of Traquair were once part of a royal hunting forest and, over the centuries, Traquair House has played host to 27 kings on sporting excursions into the rich forests of Ettrick and Lauderdale.

Long ago, there were bears, wild cats, wolves and boars in large quantities to be found. Although no written confirmation exists, it can be assumed that a house of sorts existed long before King Alexander I stayed here in 1107 and granted Traquair a Royal Charter.

In the 15th century, King James III gifted these lands in turn to a number of his favourites, but latterly to his half-brother, the Earl of Buchan. Thereafter they passed to Buchan’s natural son, James Stuart, ancestor of the present owner.

Located in the lush, rolling hills of Peeblesshire, the old fortress stands today a quarter of a mile from where the River Tweed winds its leisurely course through pastoral meadowland towards the tiny town of Innerleithen.

Once that lovely river passed so close to the house that, it was said, the Laird could fish from his windows, but when the front of the house was re-modeled, the course of the river was altered to prevent flooding.

Enlargements to the original keep had already begun when James Stuart of Traquair died fighting with his king against the English at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.

In 1599, his grandson, Sir William Stuart, created the main house as we see it today, extending the existing buildings southwards and adding the steep slated roof and dormer windows. .....

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By Charles Douglas

Section : Historic Houses

Page number : 16