Souter Johnnie's Cottage

Souter Johnnie's Cottage in Kirkoswald was the home and workshop of John Davidson, the village shoemaker who was the model for Tam o' Shanter's drinking companion in Burns's poem; the poet knew him from a summer at school in the village in 1775. The thatched cottage of 1785 keeps the feel of the family home and cobbler's workshop, and the National Trust for Scotland now runs it as a small gallery and gift shop of local arts and crafts, with an artist in residence to talk about the village. In a thatched alehouse in the garden sit life-sized stone figures of Tam, Souter Johnnie, the landlord and his wife, carved by James Thom in 1828. Dogs are welcome in the garden. Reviewers love the sculptures and the welcome but say the museum side is small. Tips from visitors: park in the lay-bys opposite or the village car park 150m away, the pavement is cobbled and the garden steep, and the real Souter and Tam lie in the churchyard across the road.