Lunch at the oldest pub in Scotland...allegedly!

 

After our walk around the three lochs on Monday we rewarded ourselves with lunch at the Sheep Heid Inn in Duddingston village which dates from the 12th century. The original inn on the site is said to date from 1360, although the current building is much later. So the site claims to be that of the oldest pub in Scotland.

It is quite charming both inside and out and the food was tasty.

In 1580 King James the 6th presented the landlord with an embellished rams head, not sure if it is the one they have on the wall though.

Other claims to fame are that the queen popped in for a wee dram back in 2016... 

...it was also probably the local of  the Reverend Robert Walker who was immortalised in the painting by Sir Henry Raeburn ** 'Skating on Duddingston Loch' - an affectionate portrayal of mild eccentricity and serene contentment. There is of course a copy in the inn with the original being in the National Gallery of Scotland in the city. 

We also took a wee walk around the Kirk which dates from the 12th century as well as the gardens of the manse.

The gardens included 'Craig's garden' so we had to seek it out (below).

** You know I love a coincidence...on the night before we left for this visit we had dinner with some French friends who had done a Scottish road trip last year and loved their visit to Edinburgh. They enjoyed their visit to the National Gallery of Scotland and showed us a photo of their favourite painting there...can you guess what it was?