Scotland's most famous son, Robert Burns, stayed at The Selkirk Arms on more than one occasion.
His visit in 1794 on one of his many Galloway Tours is said to be the origin of the Selkirk Grace.

Some hae meat and canna eat,
and some wad eat that want it,
but we hae meat and we can eat,
and sae the Lord be thankit.

Robert Burns was touring Galloway in 1794 with his friend John Syme. They stayed with the Earl of Selkirk at his family home at St Mary's Isle in Kirkcudbright. Burns would entertain the family with his humour, poems, songs and conversation. Before each meal he would give Scottish toasts. One evening he recited an old version of a traditional Scottish grace known as the Galloway Grace or the Covenanter's Grace which he changed to his style of recital and writing. The guests were impressed by this new Scottish toast and Burns published it as the Selkirk Grace in their honour. Since then it has been said by many a Scots family before formal and informal meals.


Some sources state that this took place in the summer of 1793 whilst others state that the Selkirk Grace was written in the Selkirk Arms Hotel in Kirkcudbright which is now owned by the McDavid and Walker families and is part of the Best Western Hotel group.