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, Traquair, Innerleithen, EH44 6PL

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.

Run by: Jennifer Caird


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: from £27 (£30 single occ)
Packed lunch:  £3.50
Distance from C&C: 1km
 


Quair View, Traquair, Innerleithen, EH44 6PL

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.

Run by: Pat & Brian Hudson

Tel:  01896 830506
Mobile:  07719 544208
Email:  hudson.b@btinternet.com

Rooms :   1D, 1T
B&B:  £25
Packed lunch:  £3.50
Distance from C&C:  1km
 


Glede House Guest House, St Ronans Terrace, Innerleithen, Peebleshire, EH44 6RB

Alison and Bill welcome you to Glede Knowe, a friendly and relaxing high quality guest house in the Borders.  We provide excellent 4 star accommodation in a comfortable and modern family home, set in an acre of landscaped gardens with spectacular views of the local hills. There is ample on-site parking for guests. We are well equipped to cater for cyclists and mountain bikers and are members of the local MTB hospitality scheme.  A large integral garage provides secure storage for cycles and other equipment, with racking for 12  bikes, power wash, maintenance space and drying facilities.  We can cater for groups of up to 16 people.

Run by: Bill & Alison Mason

Telephone  01896 831295
Website  www.gledeknowe.co.uk
Email  enquiries@gledeknowe.co.uk

Rooms :   2F, 1Tpl, 3T/D.
B&B: from £35.
Eve meal:  no but plenty nearby.
Pk lunch:  £5.50.
 


St Ronan's Hotel, High St, Innerleithen, EH44 6HF

Comfortable, friendly family owned hotel catering for all visitors. Safe, dry storage for bikes. Real ales and now a restaurant serving everything from snacks to 3-course dinners. Large beer garden.

Run by: Catherine Ross

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:  £5.95-£12.50
 


Traquair Arms Hotel, Traquair Rd, Innerleithen, Peebleshire, EH44 6PD

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.

Run by: David & Jane Rogers

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
 


Corner House Hotel, 1 Chapel St, Innerleithen, EH44 6HN

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.

Run by: Patrick & Linda Shek

Tel:  01896 831181
Email:  linda.shek@btinternet.com

Rooms :   4F, 2D/S, 2T/S
B&B:  £35
Packed lunch:  from £4
Evening meal:  £8-£20
 



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.



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