Arcadia Scotland

Bright and early on Saturday 24th September, we left Edinburgh and drove south into the Scottish Borders, an area fought over by the Scottish and English for centuries. 

We began at Traquair House. Built on a seat used by the Scottish kings from the 12th century, Traquair is the oldest continually inhabited house in Scotland. In addition to the ancient artefacts found in their museum room – several of which belonged to Mary Queen of Scots – we had great fun climbing down the secret passageway. The passageway was used by Traquair’s resident Catholic priest during a time when Catholics were being persecuted for practicing their faith. The secret stairs allowed for a quick getaway into the woods without being seen.

A quick tour around the grounds revealed a maze (which several students got lost in!), a small farm comprising of chickens, ducks, goats and pigs, and a view of the famous Bear Gates. The gates at the top of the main drive were built in 1739 only to be closed in 1745 following the visit of Bonnie Prince Charlie, when the 5th Earl of Traquair promised they would never be opened again until the Stuarts returned to the throne.

After lunch in the quaint town of Melrose, we visited the town’s ruined abbey and learned about its history. Once a successful Cistercian monastery, it suffered heavily during the Reformation. Despite missing most of its walls and ceilings, the abbey is known for its many carved decorative details, including likenesses of saints, dragons, gargoyles and plants. Alexander II and other Scottish kings and nobles are buried at the abbey and a lead container believed to hold the embalmed heart of Robert the Bruce was found in 1921 below the Chapter House site. 

Our next stop was the very picturesque Scott's View, a hill overlooking the River Tweed. This location was a favorite of Victorian author, Sir Walter Scott, who lived in Melrose and often came up to the view to write. The moody weather made for some very atmospheric photos!

Finally, we visited Rosslyn Chapel. Built in the 15th-century, Rosslyn is known for speculative theories concerning connections to Freemasonry, the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail. Despite these theories, its starring role in The Da Vinci Code and the intricate stone carvings found within, chapel resident William the cat stole the show!