Traquair and Innerleithen

Traquair

is a tiny hamlet (though a boom-parish 900 years ago) famous for having the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. Deeds go back to the 12th century. Traquair House was built as a castle for the kings of Scotland, and the building you see today has looked the same since the 17th century. The Palace of Traquair, as it was once known, was by repute the favourite residence of Scottish kings. It was here that William the Lion granted Glasgow's Burgh Charter in 1176.

It is full of historic treasures, secret staircases, and a priest's chamber which provided refuge for priests during a time of terror for Catholics. The mighty Bear Gates at the top of the drive were closed for the last time when Bonnie Prince Charlie fled Traquair after the Jacobite uprising was crushed at Culloden in 1746.

The Maxwell Stuart family - still in situ - swore never to open them again until a Stuart once again took the throne. You can look around the house, there's a restaurant, craft workshops, museum and brewery and a couple of rooms to let. (adult tickets: £5.60. T: +44(0)1896 830323 www.traquair.co.uk).


Accommodation

School House

Jennifer Caird, School House, Traquair, Innerleithen, EH44 6PL





Tel/Fax  01896 830425

Mobile  07986 682426

Web  www.stay-in-traquair.co.uk

Email  info@stay-in-traquair.co.uk

Rooms  1D, 1T, 1F

B&B  £25

Packed Lunch  £3.50

Distance from C&C  1km



Comfortable old school house
with beautiful views on the edge of the village, garden
with birds. Log fire, plus friendly dogs and
cats. Lock up for bikes.









Quair View

Pat & Brian Hudson, Quair View, Traquair, Innerleithen, EH44 6PL





Tel  01896 830506

Mobile  07719 544208

Email  hudson.b@btinternet.com

Rooms  1D, 1T

B&B  £22.50 - £25

Packed Lunch  £3.50

Distance from C&C  1km



Recently built bungalow half a mile
from historic Traquair House and less than that from
the World Championship downhill cycle track at Elibank,
and 10km from Glentress forestry cycle track. Warm
house, nice atmosphere.









Glede House Guest House

Bill & Alison Mason, Glede Knowe Guest House, St Ronans Terrace, Innerleithen, Peebleshire, EH44 6RB





Telephone  01896 831295

Website  www.gledeknowe.co.uk

Email  enquiries@gledeknowe.co.uk

Rooms  2F, 1Tpl, 3T/D

B&B  £35

Evening meal  No but near Traquair

Packed lunch  £5.50



Comfortable and modern family home in a landscaped greensward overlooking the town, with spectacular views across the hills. Great attention to detail and lots of facilities, including bike washing. Plenty of space and a capacity to take groups of up to 16.









St Ronan's Hotel

Catherine Ross, High St, Innerleithen, EH44 6HF





Tel  01896 831487

Mob  07769 632002

Web  www.stronanshotel.co.uk

Email  stronanshotel@hotmail.co.uk

Rooms  4D, 2T, 2F

B&B  £25-£35

Packed Lunch  £3.95

Evening meal  On request - book when booking room



Comfortable, friendly
family owned hotel catering for all visitors. Safe, dry
storage for bikes. Real ales and food available if ordered when booking. Large beer garden.









Traquair Arms Hotel

David & Jane Rogers, Traquair Rd, Innerleithen, Peebleshire, EH44 6PD





Telephone  01896 830229

Website  www.traquairarmshotel.co.uk

Email  info@traquairarmshotel.co.uk

Rooms  5T, 1 quad, 4D, 3S, 1Tpl + 3 self-catering cottages holding 7, 4 and 5.

B&B  from £40

Evening meal  Around £10 for mains (starters around £4 and desserts £4)

Packed lunch  Price depends what you order



Italian style cooking and excellent local ales, the Traquair has been refurbished and is now under energetic ownership of Dave Rogers, who bought the place three years ago. A good locals watering hole, the Traquair offers great food, inviting surroundings, and comfortable accommodation in the Hotel and in its self-catering Courtyard Cottages. Great Borders hospitality should ensure that the Traquair Arms Hotel will be a high point on your trip.









Corner House Hotel

Patrick & Linda Shek, Corner House Hotel, 1 Chapel St, Innerleithen, EH44 6HN





Tel  01896 831181

Email  linda.shek@btinternet.com

Rooms  4F, 2D/S, 2T/S

B&B  £35

Packed Lunch  from £4

Evening meal  £8-£25



Wonderful friendly
atmosphere. Free washing machine and drying room, special requirements catered for. All rooms are en-suite. No
extra charge for single occupancy. TV, tea and coffee
facilities.











Innerleithen...and the climb to Edinburgh

Just down the road is this small former spa town. The spring is known as St Ronan's Well (also the title of a Scott novel), and was briefly fabled for its healing qualities, producing a sulphurous brew similar to the baths of Harrogate. Until the spa's discovery, the place was an even tinier hamlet than Traquair.

According to the Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland (1868): "The well was a trivial, repulsive-looking fountain, bubbling up amidst a little marsh...but with remarkable suddenness, and in a way nearly unaccountable, became celebritous among valetudinarians of all classes in Edinburgh and throughout the south of Scotland. The well, in the decorations built over and around it, in the character assigned it by popular opinion, and in the influence it exerted on the village in its vicinity, now rose, as if by magic, from the status of a watery hole in a quagmire, to that of an infant competitor with the proud spas of England. In 1824, the publication of Sir Walter Scott's tale of St. Ronan's Well, greatly enhanced its celebrity, and poured down upon it some rays of that lustre which popular opinion then assigned to 'the Great Unknown'."

A further description in the New Statistical Account reads: A salubrious mineral spring eminently beneficial in cases of scrofulous disorders...and various diseases originating in impurities of the blood...The gay loungers at the watering-place came habitually to take an interest in the Games and in 1827 42 noblemen , knights and gentlemen joined in instituting an annual competition for prizes in all gymnastic exercises.

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And so was the proud town born. It still produces some of the finest cashmere in the world. It is also the centre of much mountain biking, with the World Championship downhill course in the nearby Elibank Forest. For those experiencing problems with their bikes or requiring any bits and pieces, there's an excellent bike shop, PROBIKESPORT on the Peebles Rd, near the Traquair turn (01896 830880).

Robert Smails Printing Works in the High Street gives an interesting insight into the hamlets commerical heritage. The formerly water-powered mechanical presses and typesets are still there, as are books offering a fascinating insight into the areas social history. Just past it is a major lade system for powering eight or more separate businesses. This was preserved for posterity by the National Trust for Scotland.