The Horseshoe Inn sits in the picturesque village of Eddleston, about 4 miles from Peebles and 18 miles from Edinburgh. A long, low and whitewashed building which in parts dates back several centuries, the Inn has served many purposes in its’ long history.

The Bar was originally a smiddy (blacksmiths) and many of the old blacksmith tools are still on show today. The blacksmith’s anvil sits beside the bar lounge fire which, together with the bar fireplace, was the site of the old forge and was used for making the shoes for horses and other implements.

The rest of the buildings, including the smiddy formed a row of medieval workshops and cottages. Early last century, the restaurant was still the garden to one of the cottages whose name plaque can still be seen today on the side of the building.

The cottage across from the restaurant patio was once a “Pele Tower” or fortified house used in defence of Border Reiver attacks. These buildings usually consisted of 3 floors, the windowless ground floor was used as a storage area, the second floor was the hall and kitchen, and the third floor was used as sleeping quarters.

The interior and roof of the Pele Tower were destroyed several times in border raids and the only original parts left are the five feet thick external walls. Eventually becoming a two storey building, the interior was used for many years as the Inn’s snug. Later owners converted it into a cottage for their use. Today, you can still see the scrolls on the roof ends which denote the importance of past occupants.

In Medieval times, the main road through Eddleston ran between the Pele Tower and the row of cottages, where the patio is today. In later years this was also the old Edinburgh Stagecoach Road used by people travelling to and from the South. The A703 road now in front of the Horseshoe Inn is less than 100 years old.

The railway line (now closed) came through the village and opened around 1820. The old railway line is now a pleasant country walk used by ramblers and visitors alike.

The Horseshoe Lodge is in what was the village’s old primary school which sits in the corner of the car park. This building dates back over 100 years and in 1998 was converted into several en-suite bedrooms for the Horseshoe Inn. The car park was the old playground for the school and now has parking for upto 30 cars for guests and patrons of the Inn.