Traquair House, in the Scottish Borders, is a fortified mansion style dwelling that is considered Scotland's oldest continuously occupied house. Traquair House was designed as a hunting lodge for Scottish monarchs and has been inhabited for over 900 years. The 21st Lady of Traquair and her family live in the house today, however, the historic house and the extensive Traquair estate remain open to the public.

Traquair is derived from the Celtic terms hamlet or residence and a winding stream, alluding to the site's location at the confluence of the Quair Burn and the River Tweed. While the house's founding date is unknown, it was built in 1107 to accommodate King Alexander I, who signed a royal charter while there. Traquair was a royal hunting lodge set amid the deep Ettrick Forest, but it also served as a location for administering justice, holding court, and passing laws.

Traquair became one of the numerous fortified tower houses along with the Tweed during the 13th century Wars of Independence. During English invasions, the towers flashed signals downriver to raise an alert. When Robert the Bruce became king in 1306, he returned Traquair House to the Crown following a brief English occupation, ushering in an era of relative calm.

The main house at Traquair, designed by Edinburgh architect James Smith and completed in 1695, has remained unchanged for over 300 years. A stately driveway and gate greet visitors as they approach a whitewashed stone house with two big side wings and a double terrace overlooking formal grounds. The Traquair coat of arms can be seen atop the gate.

Location: Traquair House, Traquair, Innerleithen EH44 6PW, Scotland

Phone: +44 1896 830323

Website: traquair.co.uk

The Kenmore, an inn that dates back to 1502, claims to be Scotland's oldest hotel, offering the ever-popular combo of 'accommodation and refreshments.' Famous personalities have dined at the Kenmore Hotel throughout the years, including Oliver Cromwell, who dined there with his forces while pursuing the Earl of Montrose in the 17th century. Cromwell and his troops did not burn down the Kenmore, unlike other places in the neighborhood, thus the service and food must have been excellent.

Later, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert stayed at the hotel for a portion of their honeymoon. Robert 'Rabbie' Burns, a Scottish poet, also paid a visit and wrote a poem about the place while he was there. The poem is still hung on the chimney breast of the Kenmore today. Kenmore Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Scotland.

The Kenmore Hotel, located in Highland Perthshire's village of Kenmore, offers hotel rooms and 10 5-star lodges, as well as a restaurant and traditional bar with views across the River Tay. Kenmore is located to the east of Loch Tay and to the north of the River Tay.

Location: Kenmore, Aberfeldy PH15 2NU, Scotland
Phone: +44 1887 830205
Website: strathmorehotels-thesalutation.com

The next position on the list of the oldest hoKilmartin Castle is situated on the outskirts of Kilmartin Glen, an ancient landscape containing some of Scotland's most remarkable Neolithic and Bronze Age relics. Kilmartin Castle is a 16th-century Z-plan tower house castle at Kilmartin, Scotland. The castle itself dates back over 500 years. In 1550, a man named John Carswell was chosen as the castle's first custodian, and in 1575, the 5th Earl of Argyll, whom Carswell had trained in his childhood, bestowed upon him the renowned title of Bishop of the Isles.

Mary Queen of Scots later awarded Carswell the authority of Ioana Abbey on the nearby Isle of Mull, demonstrating that he knew his trades. Following this, the Campbell clan occupied Kilmartin Castle for about 200 years, until it fell into disrepair near the end of the 18th century. It has now been transformed into a five-star hotel where you may sleep in a four-poster bed.

Kilmartin Castle mixes a classic Scottish ambiance with several creative touches by owners Simon and Stef on the inside. The Speel, which mixes exposed stones with comfortable dark blue lime painted walls, was their favorite. It's bright and airy, with a skylight in the vaulted ceiling that provides you a view of the sky and trees above. You won't want to get out of the copper bathtub after a day spent exploring the Scottish countryside!

Location: Kilmartin, Lochgilphead PA31 8RQ, Scotland
Phone: +44 7507 038893
Website: kilmartincastle.com

The Drovers Inn, which opened in 1705 and is located at the northern extremity of Loch Lomond, is one of Scotland's oldest licensed premises. The Highland drovers who used to bring their cattle down the side of Loch Lomond to the markets gave it its name. Rob Roy MacGregor (1671-1734), a legendary Scottish folk hero and criminal who is often referred to as the Scottish Robin Hood, was one of the most famous drovers. The Inn was also used as a location in Tom Hanks and Halle Berry's German film Cloud Atlas.

The magnificent architecture and authenticity of The Drovers Inn will immediately strike you. It's like stepping back in time once you're inside. Back in the day, people sang songs and sipped whisky neat by candlelight. Where the fire is constantly burning, the food is always delicious, and the people are always happy. He was thought to be a young driver who was slain at the Inn after returning to seek vengeance for a rival clan stealing his cattle. Today, the Inn provides a unique experience for its guests, with live music every weekend and a diverse menu of Scottish food. It's the ideal lunch or dinner stop for any walkers traveling through.

Location: North Loch Lomond, Inverarnan G83 7DX, Scotland

Phone: +44 1301 704234

Website: droversinn.co.uk

Following the Jacobite insurrection of 1715, the Garrison of Inversnaid was established in 1718. Rob Roy MacGregor was the Duke of Montrose's primary cattle procurer and herder. Rob Roy borrowed money from creditors and was unable to repay them immediately, so they published an ad in the Edinburg Gazette calling him an outlaw. As Rob Roy's employer, the Duke needed to appear to be disciplining his renegade employee, so he wrote to King George III, requesting that a garrison be built in the heart of Clan Gregor territory, which is, of course, precisely here.

The building was eventually taken over by Jacobite soldiers in 1745 and used as a garrison until the end of the 18th century when it was converted into an inn and a sheep farm before becoming a bed and breakfast for visitors looking for a really quiet stay in the Scottish countryside.

Guests can enjoy traditional Scottish breakfasts prepared at the Garrison using produce grown on the premises. Every day, for an additional price, a homegrown organic meat or vegetable stew is offered with crusty bread. Guests will have the opportunity to meet, feed, and pet farm animals such as Highland cows, sheep, pigs, and chickens during the personalized farm tour. Skiing, cycling, and hiking are just a few of the activities available in the area.

Location: Garrison Farm, Inversnaid FK8 3TU,

Phone: +44 1877 386341

Website: garrisonofinversnaid.co.uk

The Salutation Hotel and Restaurant is located in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. It is a Category B listed building with previous additions and subsequent alterations, dating from circa 1810. The structure claims to be Scotland's oldest hotel, although this is not the case. It has grown to encompass three adjacent tenements, one on the right and two on the left.

A private residence belonging to the Murray family was the first structure recorded on this site. Between 1699 and 1745, it served as a rest stop for coaches traveling between Edinburgh and Glasgow in the south and Aberdeen and Inverness in the north. The Venetian window was erected by Sir Robert Reid, the King's architect in Scotland, to the current street elevation in the early nineteenth century.

A 1699 stone fireplace may be found in room number 20. A stone carrying the Earl of Moray's arms, dated 1619, may be found in the courtyard to the back. On November 7, 1969, David Bowie performed in the hotel's Moncreiffe Suite. The hotel has also hosted the Beatles. In 2016, a project to renovate the hotel's exterior won the biennial Perth Civic Trust Award.

Location: 30–36 South Street Perth, Perthshire, Scotland
Phone: 01738 630066
Website: strathmorehotels-thesalutation.com

The first position on the list of the oldest hotels in Scotland is Dalhousie Castle. It is a Scottish castle in Cockpen, Midlothian. Dalhousie Castle is located 8 miles (13 kilometers) south of Edinburgh, near the village of Bonnyrigg. The Earls of Dalhousie, Clan Ramsay's chieftains, resided in the fortress.

Simundus de Ramesie (Simon of Ramsey), an English knight of Norman lineage from the Huntingdonshire settlement of Ramsey, was the clan's patriarch. Simundus, a subordinate of David, Earl of Huntingdon, accompanied his master to Scotland around 1140 when David inherited the Scottish throne. He is credited with founding the Ramsay clan and being the first to settle at Dalwolsey.

He was the one who built the first fortress at Dalhousie. The red stone castle overlooks the River Esk in a strategic location. The earliest element of the current edifice, an L Plan Castle, is the drum tower, which originates from the mid-15th century. The existing castle was built mostly in the 17th century. The castle used to be surrounded by a dry moat. In the late twentieth century, the moat was partially excavated but eventually filled in. Each one of a kind chamber is lavishly adorned with rich Scottish fabrics and historical furniture, deserving of a royal visitor's stay.

Location: Cockpen, Midlothian, Scotland
Phone: 01875 820153
Website: dalhousiecastle.co.uk

The next position on the list of the oldest hotels in Scotland is the Dornoch Castle Hotel. Despite the fact that it only opened as a hotel in 1947, the origins of this beautiful castle are supposed to date back to the late 15th century, if not earlier. Unfortunately, determining a more accurate date is problematic due to the destruction of early records during a siege in 1570. The siege was especially bloody, as it was fought between the Murray and Mackay clans over a long-running dispute that had been sparked by the Earl of Caithness.

Residents of Dornoch were compelled to seek sanctuary in the castle and the 13th-century cathedral right across the street after days of combat. A peace pact was eventually reached, with three members of the Murray clan serving as hostages. They were executed as soon as they were turned over, bringing an end to a long and violent conflict. Drink a dram of whisky or gin from the hotel's on-site Dornoch Distillery if you need a drink to calm your nerves after all that gore.

Location: Castle Street, Dornoch IV25 3SD, Scotland
Phone: +44 1862 810216
Website: dornochcastlehotel.com