Souter Johnnies Cottage

Immortalised as Souter Johnnie in Robert Burns' narrative poem, 'Tam o' Shanter', the man behind the legend was local shoemaker John Davidson who lived in the small village of Kirkoswald. His cottage is now in the care of the National Trust for Scotland, where visitors can view and learn about fascinating artefacts relating to the life and work of the village souter.

The cottage was built in 1785 by Davidson himself and he lived there, with his wife Anne and their children until his death in 1806. The cottage was passed into the NTS' ownership in 1932.