The Wee Bush is believed to have been visited by Robert Burns on his first trip from Ayr to Edinburgh in November 1786. It is known that Burns left Ayr on Monday 27th November 1786, and visited Archibald Prentice at Covington Mains near Carnwath later that day although he did not stay the night. He breakfasted the next morning at Hillhead with James Stoddard and arrived in Edinburgh later that day. Both of these farms are in the vicinity of Carnwath.
Labels from Tennents Robert Burns Ale, showing the crest of the Burns Federation and their motto "Better a Wee Bush than Nae Beild"

Burns is reputed to have written a letter from Edinburgh on the 28th of November 1786 which may describe this journey in more detail. The letter has not been seen since 1851, however, when a Robert Chambers saw it in the possession of one Samuel Wellstood of Jersey City, USA; unless, of course, you know different?

On staying at the Wee Bush Inn, Robert Burns is reputed to have said "better a wee bush than nae beild", and this is now the motto of the Burns Federation and it appears on the sign at the Wee Bush Inn today. The motto means "better a small bush than no shelter" or, in the wider context, be thankful for what you have.