86 High Street · the Muckle Toon
The best seat in the town.
A family-run coaching inn. Four rooms upstairs, a restaurant cooking with local produce, and the bar the street still calls the Duggie.
The house
Bar at the front. Restaurant at the back. Rooms under the roof.
On the High Street in Langholm, fifteen miles from Gretna on the A7. Walkers, cyclists and fishing parties are expected. We confirm the booking ourselves.
Inside
Restaurant, rooms and a proper bar.
The restaurant
Candlelit, with a locally sourced à la carte menu, chalkboard specials, traditional favourites and a long list of puddings. It opens early for pre-theatre meals before shows at the Buccleuch Centre.
The rooms
Four en suite bedrooms, each with its own character. Double or king-size beds, flat-screen TV and DVD, a power shower, courtesy tray, hairdryer and free Wi-Fi.
Bar and beer garden
A cosy bar with a wide choice of malt whiskies, spirits, wines and ales, cask ale among them. In summer, meals and drinks are served in the south-facing, stone-walled beer garden.
On the High Street
The Douglas, then and now.
A coaching inn on the main street of the Muckle Toon, restored and run by a family. The front of the building still looks much as it did in the old photograph.
A base for the Borders
Why “the Muckle Toon”?
Muckle is Scots for large. Langholm earned the name as a big woollen textile centre, and it is known that way locally still.
Today it is a recognised centre for country sports, and a relaxing base for Dumfriesshire, the Scottish Borders and Cumbria. Walking, cycling and fishing parties are made very welcome.
From the front door
Walk out in the morning.
The Esk is a few minutes away. The five hills — Castle, Meikleholm, Timpen, Warbla, Whita — start just outside the town. The Common Riding is the last Friday in July.
“The homemade steak pie is probably the best pie I have ever had.”
A guest, after more than one stay.