Main Road
Kirkoswald
Ayrshire
KA19 8HY

Tel: 01655 760 603

The inspiration for the character Souter Johnnie, Tam's 'ancient, trusty, drouthy crony' in Burns' poem Tam O'Shanter, was John Davidson, the real-life souter (shoemaker) who lived and worked in this cottage. The thatched building contains many relics, including the family bible and implements of a village shoemaker. In the restored alehouse in the garden are life-sized stone figures of the souter, Tam, the inn-keeper and his wife. They sit around, much as Burns visualised them, 'fast by an ingle bleezing finely … ae market nicht' over 200 years ago.

Hours:
Good Friday - 3rd Oct 11:00 - 17:00 daily;
weekends in Oct, 11:30 - 17:00 (last admission 16:30)