Traquair House
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If you're looking for a day trip from Edinburgh, consider Traquair House.
Find your stay
Its white-painted turrets are a good destination if exploring countryside around the capital. Traquair dates from the 12th century, making it the oldest inhabited house in Scotland.

"Of course, no trip to Traquair could be complete without a visit to its famous maze.
Discover the history and beauty of Traquair House
History of Traquair House
Sited in the heart of the Scottish Borders, visitors to Traquair House have included 27 Scottish Kings and Queens, such as Mary, Queen of Scots.
You can still see the cradle where she rocked her baby, who later grew up to become King James I.
Traquair is Scotland's oldest inhabited house and is packed with antiques, porcelain and paintings.
Visitors will learn about Traquair’s eventful history, during which the owners took part in religious wars that divided Scotland for decades.
It was once a refuge for Catholic priests and has secret passages for a hasty getaway.
Traquair House has welcomed visitors since 1958 and, perhaps more importantly for them, the house has a fine coffee shop.
The Traquair shop is also a must, selling a good range of presents, toys and souvenirs.
It is also one of the world’s few stockists of spurtles, an implement specially designed for stirring porridge.
Traquair ales
Traquair House is home to one of Britain’s smallest and most unique breweries, located in one wing of the house.
Originally founded in the early 1700s and restored in 1965 by the present owner’s father, the brewery uses traditional methods to produce a range of popular ales, including the famous Traquair House Ale.
Traquair is considered a pioneer in micro-brewing and nowadays still only produces 1,000 hectolitres a year.
Traquair House for a children's day out
Children will also find plenty to do.
They can race off some energy by running about the attractive walled garden and separate play area.
And, of course, no trip to Traquair could be complete without a visit to its famous maze.
Traquair maze
A popular film location, the maze covers half an acre of land behind the main house. Just getting to its centre takes a quarter of a mile.
Once inside the maze, an eight-foot-high hedge of cypress and beech makes it impossible to see further than a few feet ahead.
Parents can stand on nearby terrace walls raised above the maze to direct their children towards the centre – and back out again.
The maze has a curious design in that it does not have any dead ends and explorers reach four 'sub-centres' before finding the true centre.
Woe betides anyone who ventures into the maze without someone to guide them!
Events at Traquair House
At Easter time, Traquair hides 6,000 mini-eggs in the maze for children to find in their 'Eggstravaganza'.
Meanwhile, at Halloween, the house plays host to more family events, including ghost stories and pumpkin treasure hunts.
If you are looking to escape the busy city of Edinburgh during the summer, head to Traquair.
The Beyond Borders International Festival is held on an August weekend each year and encourages dialogue between nations through cultural exchange, including music and poetry.
Visit Traquair on a day trip from Edinburgh
Traquair House is a great day trip from Edinburgh for all ages.
Another fantastic option is East Links Family Park in Dunbar, located an easy drive to the east of Edinburgh.
If you are looking to book a family self-catering break to Edinburgh, search our portfolio now.