Dating from around 1748 and rebuilt in 1808, this inn is the only thatched buiding in Ayr town centre. At one time there was a brewhouse at the rear of the building; beer is no longer brewed on the premises but local beer is available to enjoy in many of the local pubs.
For many years a museum but now returned to its original purpose, the pub is popular with visitors to the town because of its alleged connection with the well known poem Tam O’Shanter by local poet Robert Burns.
Read an abridged version of the poem at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tam_o'_Shanter_(poem)
The Tam O’Shanter of the poem was Douglas Graham of Shanter Farm, something of a bon vivant and known to Robert Burns. The tale of Tam O’Shanter was apparently an old Ayrshire legend which Burns turned to his own use to poke fun at his friends Douglas and Kate Graham. Tradition has it that the old Inn in the High Street of Ayr was the ‘howff’ of Graham and ‘Souter’ Johnny and a favourite retreat of Burns himself.
Previously a multi which needs to be reworked, the cache is now at the coordinates above. To find the cache you do not need to enter the pub, but you will need to go through the passage between the pub and the restaurant which is a public footpath taking you past the rear of the pub.
As you climb the steps, take a moment to read Burns' poem which is inscribed on the treads.