Welcome to The Allan Ramsay Hotel

est. 1792 and named in honour of Allan Ramsay (1684-1758) - the celebrated Scots poet.

This Place

Dating from 1792 this 'coaching' inn is located in the former weavers' village of Carlops, nestled at the foot of the Pentland Hills. Situated alongside the A702 road it is conveniently located only 20 minutes from Edinburgh. This historic inn retains its 18th Century character with antique decorations, a small library, charming candle-lit restaurant and real log fires.

Our Rooms

The hotel has four comfortable guests rooms (ensuite) on the upper floor which offer single, double, twin and family occupancy options. There is also a lovely self-contained apartment, on the ground floor with its own separate entrance. The apartment sleeps six and has one double bedroom with an ensuite shower room, a second double bedroom and a twin room plus a comfortable lounge, kitchen and a bathroom with shower. View our Rooms and Make a Booking.

Our Food and Drink

Guests staying with us can enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast served daily from 7.30am (8am at weekends). Guest Breakfast Menu.

Food is served daily from 12 noon and is freshly prepared using finest quality, locally sourced meat, fish and game wherever possible. View our Menu. At weekends there are usually Chef's Specials on offer and a selection of freshly baked scones, cakes and desserts is served daily. To Book A Table.

To compliment your food there is a good selection of sparkling, white, red and rose wines on offer; chosen by the wine experts at Cockburns of Leith. View our Wine List.

The hotel has one of the last remaining 'penny bars' in the UK; that is a bar top decorated with one penny coins, some dating back to Queen Victoria. Stocked with popular lagers, ciders and locally produced real ales there also is a fine selection of Scottish malt whiskies and gins.

What Our Customers Say

supper was delicious, to say nothing of the malts in the bar afterwards

Tim & Claudia, Gettendorf, Germany

stay blessed...

Guestbook comment

pleasant and relaxed...

Guestbook comment

thank you very much Rosie and Kenny

Viraj and Laci, Hungary

Lovely Easter morning in Scotland

Morna, Dublin and NY

what a great little joint

Linda & Terry Richardson, NSW, Australia

another enjoyable stay, fourth in two years.

Guestbook Comment

another enjoyable stay, fourth in two years.

Guestbook Comment

cracking atmosphere

Harry & Pauline Armstrong

Very comforting.

Guestbook Comment

great place for a contractor to stay too

Steve, Luton

loved Sam the pub dog...great place to stay

Anne, Harry, Andrew Stafford, Manchester

Lovely old inn

Jane & Bill Ironside, Fraserburgh

Enjoyed the local walks...

Mr & Mrs Galbraith

Excellent accueil...

Evelyne & Patrick, France

Breakfast great!

Guestbook comment

made to feel so welcome..

The Tait Family, Glossop, England

Lovely occasion and celebration for poet Allan Ramsay...

Helen S., Edinburgh

Very good place!

Claudia, Monika, Bruno

Loved my stay

Guestbook comment

gorgeous place

Suzanne

bed was so comfortable

Steven Mitchell

Recommend 100%

Ernest, Miami, Florida USA

Excellent hospitality...

M.J. Hardcastle, Lesmahagow

Excellent hospitality...

M.J. Hardcastle, Lesmahagow

Excellent hospitality...

M.J. Hardcastle, Lesmahagow

Auberge pleine de charme...

Catherine Patrice et Lucas, Offerrent, France

Oh it was lovely! 5*

James Nicholls

Will always use this lovely hotel as a stopover from now on.

Margaret And Ted

Really comfortable and peaceful.

Heather Ireland, Aberystwyth

Lovely historic pub/hotel in a village near Edinburgh. Extremely friendly proprietors

Guestbook comment

This is a lovely place.

Maria & Alfiia

lovely staff and brilliant manners

Susie & Iain, Edinburgh

comfy bed

Doreen & Norman, Somerset

thank you for all your hospitality

Guestbook comment

Merci Chef

Guestbook comment

Lovely stay

Bryan & Nicola Nunn, Ousden Suffolk

Wonderful hotel!

Jan, Catalonia

First class

Mr. Sturrock, Dundee

Very welcome at The Allan Ramsay

Mr & Mrs Mackenzie

never disappointed with meal or service

Mr & Mrs Brunton

Great value for money

Ms. K. Habsburg

Really nice pub / restaurant

Ms. F. Black, Edinburgh

Friendly service - welcoming.

F. Shaw, Edinburgh

loved staying here

Anne & John Williams (Wolverhampton)

lovely stay

Margo & Jim Grierson (Donaster)

a dream

F. Rose

Nice big bed...

Jakup & Lenka

Thank you for a lovely stay...

Stuart Vorzie

Fantastic, we love it.

Guestbook comment

Really enjoyed ourselves.

Jackie & Liam

A really good hotel...

Micha, Mimi, MA and Lia

Special place....genuinely warm welcome....superb grub...keep up the good works folks!

C. Gibson & C. Scrutton

dog friendly too

Simon and Jane Knight

a real home from home

Graham & Joy Knight

Exceptional!

Dave Edley, Wakefield, England

Exceptional!

Dave Edley, Wakefield, England

Exceptional!

Dave Edley, Wakefield, England

Everyone so helpful and friendly.

Ruth & Tom

Lovely stay for us and our doggies, fantastic location and lovely people

Guestbook comment

Perfect!

Richard & Sue Tyrrell, Kilmarnock

Charming place

Janine, Australia

food been amazing

Mr & Mrs Dodd, Bigginhill, Kent

an amazing find

Michelle and Martin

Who is Allan Ramsay?

Allan Ramsay (1684-1758)
b. Leadhills, Scotland
d. Edinburgh

"One of Scotland's most important historical figures; a founding father of Romanticism alongside the great poets Keats, Shelley, Wordsworth, Byron and Robert Burns."

Poet; collector of Scots verse and songs; bookseller; credited as having Britain’s first subscription library; founded Britain’s first art school; and author of Scotland’s first folk opera - The Gentle Shepherd - which is set in the countryside around the village of Carlops. [Follow the trails near the hotel to the Scenery of The Gentle Shepherd - Allan Ramsay Heritage Trails]

Greatly celebrated and reveered in his day. There is a plaque dedicated to him in Grayfriars Kirk, Edinburgh; his face is depicted on the Walter Scott monument, Edinburgh and his statue can be seen in Princes Street Gardens. NEW! Ramsay Edinburgh Walking Tour.

Allan Ramsay's (eldest son (also called Allan) became one of Britain's finest portrait painters.

Allan Ramsay (son)

(1713-1758)

b. Edinburgh
d. Dover, England

"Ramsay’s eldest son was to become in many people’s eyes, the greatest portrait painter of the eighteenth century."

Artist; from age 20 studied in London under Swedish painter Hans Hysing; then in Rome and Naples under Fransceso Solimena and Imperiali (Francesco Fernandi). Painted the great and the good of the time and rose to become Principal Painter in Ordinary to King George III.

"His paintings are full of grace and individuality; showing his excellent draughtsmanship".

His painting career was ended prematurely by a shoulder injury; from 1770 he concentrated on literary pursuits as became an important figure of the Scottish Enlightenment. [For more details Allan Ramsay (son) Portrait Painter].

Allan Ramsay

The Collected Works Publication 2018

More information on The Ramsay Project