The Bear Gates at Traquair

With yet another glorious day weather wise, His Lordship and I loaded the bikes onto the car and headed for Peebles and then cycled to Traquair House for lunch.

The last time we went there was in the autumn in the car, and the gateman demanded £5.00 for the honour of getting to the cafe for lunch. This time we sloped past the line of paying cars on our bikes determined not to pay such an exorbitant price just to enter the cafe for a cup of tea.

Traquair House as it is today dates back to 1695, although there has been a hunting lodge on the site since about 1107. It has been in the Stuart family since before the Jacobite rebellion. They were staunch Catholics and supported Bonnie Prince Charlie who has stayed there.

The gates I have blipped which stand at the top of the avenue of trees leading to the house, were erected in 1738 and used for 18 years before being closed, and would only ever be opened again when there was a Stuart king on the throne. They still stay shut.

Had I been a bit taller I might have managed to get the house in the frame at the foot of the avenue. That's another disadvantage of being knee high to a grasshopper.

Recently Traquair reinstated its 18th century brewery and it became the first domestic brewery in recent times in the Uk to hold a brewing licence.

Here endeth my history lesson for today.