Traquair House Maze

Heritage attraction

Explorer Tom

Traquair House Maze has been trying to outwit visitors since 1981, but it does so without a single dead end. Behind the old house near Innerleithen, its hedges lead you through four smaller centres before the middle. I would pretend that is a simple errand, except the maze appears to know exactly how confident I was when I walked in. The maze stands where Traquair once had an eighteenth-century formal garden. John Schofield, a craft worker at the house, designed the layout, and local schoolchildren helped plant the first trees. The original 1,500 Leyland cypresses had a rough winter in 1983; most died, and the owners replanted with beech. The current green walls are a recovery story as well as a puzzle, which feels rather noble for a hedge. The terrace walls give parents a vantage point from which to advise children who are doing perfectly well without them. Traquair says the maze has hosted Easter egg hunts, weddings and even a proposal with fireworks and champagne. None of those is needed for an ordinary visit: reaching the middle and finding your own way out is quite enough glory. If the hedge starts offering directions, check whether you have simply been walking in circles. The maze is part of Traquair’s visitor grounds, not a free-standing public park. The house publishes seasonal opening dates and grounds admission, with a winter closure from December through March; check the current day before travelling. Follow the signed entrance from Innerleithen, and allow time for the rest of the grounds if you escape. The house is old, but the maze will do its best to make you feel older.

This does not grant access. Check current paths, opening conditions and ownership before entering.

What do you know about this place?Tap to add a comment or ask a question

More pictures of this place

What is recorded here

Map note: The recorded spot for Traquair House Maze is near Traquair, Scottish Borders, Scotland; it is a heritage attraction. See what else is around it before planning your day.

From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors) r11982656