Page 4 - Heart of the Travellers Vol 3 ed 2 May 2017

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Weel-Kent Places: The Tinker’s Loup

This delightful old photograph shows The Tinker’s Loup in East Lothian. The photograph was posted online and a

lively discussion followed about why the name originated. Amongst the reasons for the name were these two

contributions:

Strange one this. Galloway Travellers said the lad was being hunted by Covenanters, others say he’d stolen
something from a farmer and was making his escape. I come across this many times and the truth is usually
well hidden. Anyway it’s quite a jump to be sure.

The legend I heard was he stole a pan of puddings fae a cottar's wife! He was chased and louped the linn
pan in hand! He is said to have flung the empty pan back to his pursuers! It is all underwater now as part of
the hydro scheme. Guid bit fur birds and troots.

Whatever the truth of the matter, the loup itself must have been impressive enough to have gone down in local
lore! If you fancy a wee daunder, there’s an interesting guide for a walk in the area here: Woodhall Dean Walk .

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