Burns - Counting Sheep Campers · Robert Burns 6 BURNS MONUMENT, ALLOWAY– Opened in 1823, it was designed to give visitors a view of the landscape that inspired Robert Burns. Look

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Your Detailed Itinerary In the Footsteps of Robert Burns

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Day 1From Glasgow head south-west for Kilmarnock, where his first published book of poems – the famous ‘Kilmarnock Edition’ of 1786 – was printed. Burns was farming at Mossgiel, Mauchline at the time. That meant Kilmarnock was his market and business town. He was well liked there and local business people assisted in raising funds for the publication. Today, Kilmarnock is still the headquarters of the Robert Burns World Federation. Continue to Ayr and overnight.

Day 2Explore Ayr, then travel a short way south to Alloway. The town of Ayr still has features from Burns’ day, notably the Auld Brig – The Old Bridge in his poem ‘The Brigs of Ayr’. The present Wallace Tower, in the High Street, also mentioned in the same poem, replaced the ancient original in 1834. The town also has a Burns statue, in the square named after him. Ayr is also at the centre of the annual Burns an’ a’ that Festival, which brings the Burns theme into the 21st century. Several more of the sites associated with Burns and his early years are in the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway and include Burns Cottage, Auld Alloway Kirk, Burns Monument and the Brig o’ Doon.

Day 3Take the road to Mauchline, east of Ayr, with its many Burns connections. Mauchline Churchyard was the final resting place of many of his contemporaries, including the local Mauchline character Willie Fisher, whose religious aspirations were satirised (and immortalised) in the unforgettable ‘Holy Willie’s Prayer’. The present Poosie Nancie’s pub has direct links back to Burns time – Nancie was the landlady in Burns’ day. Burns’ poem ‘The Holy Fair’ describes the high spirits of Mauchline Holy Fair, a tradition still observed in the town.

Take the main A76 south for Dumfries, passing Ellisland Farm on the way. From this farm, Burns moved to Dumfries in 1791. The house in which he eventually lived is now a museum with some Burns artefacts. The Burns Mausoleum, his last resting place, is in St Michael’s Churchyard close by. Overnight Dumfries.

Day 4Take the road northwards for Edinburgh. Scotland’s capital is where he achieved fame as a ‘ploughman poet’. The Writers Museum exhibits manuscripts and other materials associated with Burns, while the city also has a Burns Monument beside Calton Hill. The grave of ‘Clarinda’, Mrs Agnes M’Lehose, with whom Burns had a passionate affair – but only by letter! – is in the Canongate Churchyard, off the Royal Mile. Burns wrote ‘Ae Fond Kiss, and then we sever’, perhaps Scotland’s greatest song of parting, as a result of meeting her. Literary tours are also on offer, to find out more about Robert Burns and the many other writers who shaped Edinburgh, the first UNESCO city of literature.

The information contained in this publication is as supplied to VisitScotland and to the best of VisitScotland’s knowledge is correct at the time of going to press. VisitScotland can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. Journey times and frequency are accurate at the time of going to print but may be subject to change. April 2015.

VisitScotland is committed to ensuring that our natural environment and built heritage, upon which tourism is so dependent, is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy.

Cover: The statue of Robert Burns, Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway. © VisitScotland/Scottish Viewpoint

In the Footsteps of Robert Burns

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In the Footsteps of Robert Burns

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DEAN CASTLE, KILMARNOCK – This was the home of Burns’ patron, the Earl of Glencairn. Today, the castle houses an important collection of manuscripts, books and paintings relating to Burns.

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MAUCHLINE – The little town where Burns started his married life and also had some of his most creative years. His former home is now Burns' House Museum, displaying Burns memorabilia and folk artefacts. The striking National Burns Memorial is also in the town.

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AYR – To the north of his birthplace, Alloway, the town of Ayr was well known to Burns and he made several poetic references to it – most famously in ‘Tam o’ Shanter where he remarks that it was known for ‘honest men and bonnie lasses’.

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BURNS COTTAGE, ALLOWAY, PART OF THE ROBERT BURNS BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM – This icon of Burns and Scotland was built by Burns’ father only two years before Burns himself was born there in 1759. Period interior.

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BRIG O’ DOON, ALLOWAY – Upstream from the modern bridge carrying the Alloway/ Maybole Road, this ancient bridge (c.14th century) became famous after its featuring in Burns verse narrative ‘Tam o’ Shanter’ where Tam is pursued by witches.

L i tt l e

M

i n ch

Th e M

i nch

M o ra y Fi r t h

Fi r t h o f Fo r t h

LochShin

LochNess

LochEricht

Loch Tay

LochAwe

Loch Earn

Loch LomondLoch Lomond

LochShiel

A712

A96

A96

A701

A702

A167A746

A702

A713

A816

A816

A848

A68A844

A702

A697

A688

A868

A947A940

A84

A811

A7

A7

A72

A596

A857

A71

A595

A815

A98

A77

A90

A920

A714

A710

A926

A9

A97

A75

A77

A701

A701

A711

A69

A855

A755

A867

A716

A941

A7

A82

A822

A837

A696

A957

A592

A95

A839

A941

A77

A77

A858

A944

A78 A737

A78

A83

A83 A82

A6

A933

A1087

A875

A814

A90

A821

A689

A93

A939

A686

A6088

A198

A831

A1

A920

A75

A75 A75

A75

A850

A830

A846

A709

A841

A99

A66

A835

A965

A83

A6112

A866

A930

A847

A948

A698

A751

A76

A76

A76

A81

A917

A69

A97

A917

A708

A68

A68

A760

A1

A980

A916

A923

A70

A9

A9

A721

A1068

A92

A699

A975

A91

A859

A986

A919

A966

A981

A967

A960

A15

A1

A1

A6105

A937

A70

A85

A706

A886

A913

A836

A90

A90

A689

A827

A888

A86

A990

A865

A938

A880

A698

A94

A95

A95

A591

A838

A894

A823

A819

A939

A6089

A762

A712

A85

A863

A928

A964

A849

A941

A719

A747

A861

A85 A85

A9

A934

A882

A924

A961

A828A884

A832

A950

A698

A822

A944

A889

A826

A817

A952

A832

A833

A699

A949

A703

A923

A920

A82

A87

A87

A87

A890

A890

A839

A836

A851

A836

A887

A99

A835

A689

A897A894

A846

A896

M74

A194(M)

M9

M74

M8

A1(M)

M77

A74(M)

M80

M8

M6

M8

M90

M9

M6

M8

E N G L A N D

N O R T H E R NI R E L A N D

SPEY VALLEY

StromnessKirkwall

John o’ GroatsGills Bay

Scrabster

ThursoMelvichBettyhill

Tongue

Durness

Scourie

Altnaharra

Lochinver

Wick

Dunbeath

Helmsdale

BroraGolspie

Dornoch

Tain

Lairg

Ullapool

Gairloch

Torridon

Stornoway

Arnol

Port of Ness

Callanish

Tarbert

Leverburgh

Otternish

Dingwall Nairn Elgin

CromartyBanff Fraserburgh

Peterhead

Turriff

Huntly

Grantown-on-Spey

AviemoreBoat ofGarten

KingussieRalia

Muir of Ord

CullenMacduff

GardenstownForres

Dufftown

Craigellachie

AchnasheenStrathpeffer

Portree

Elgol

Uig

Dunvegan

Sconser

Lochcarron

Kyle ofLochalsh

Broadford

Carbost

Armadale

Mallaig

Glenelg

Shiel Bridge

Kylerhea

Lochmaddy

Lochboisdale

Isle of Eriskay

Castlebay

DrumnadrochitUrquhartCastle

Fort Augustus

Invergarry

Spean Bridge

Newtonmore

Braemar

Glenshee

BallaterCrathie

Aboyne

Edzell

AlfordInverurie

Ellon

Banchory

Stonehaven

Forfar

Kirriemuir

Glamis

Arbroath

Montrose

Crieff

Carnoustie

BrechinPitlochry

Blairgowrie

Aberfeldy

Killin

Dunkeld

Scone

KinlochRannoch

BlairAtholl

Bruar

Fort William

Oban

Corran

Strontian GlencoeBallachulish

LochalineFishnish

Craignure

Acharacle

Kilchoan

Tobermory

Fionnphort

Feolin

PortAskaig

Bowmore

PortEllen

Crinan

Lochgilphead

Tarbert

Tayinloan

Carradale

Dunoon

Rothesay Largs

Irvine

DumbartonBalloch

Drymen

Dunblane

Helensburgh

Wemyss Bay

Crianlarich

Tyndrum

Tarbet

Inveraray

Lochearnhead

Callander

AberfoyleArdgartan

GourockGreenock

ColintraiveRhubodach

PortavadieKennacraig

Claonaig

Lochranza

Brodick

Campbeltown

Ardrossan

Troon

Prestwick

Kilmarnock

Millport

Ayr

Maybole

LanarkPeebles

Penicuik

Biggar

Abington

Newton Stewart

Girvan

Stranraer

Whithorn

WigtownPortpatrick

Port Logan

Cairnryan CastleDouglas

Gatehouseof Fleet

Kirkcudbright

Dalbeattie

NewAbbey

Langholm

Gretna

LockerbieDumfries

Thornhill

GretnaGreen

Carlisle

Moffat

Berwick-upon-Tweed

Haddington

Galashiels

St Andrews

North BerwickDunbar

Cupar

GlenrothesKinross

Dunfermline

LinlithgowFalkirk

Selkirk

JedburghHawick

Poolewe

Tomintoul

Daviot

Spittal ofGlenshee

Arisaig

Kirkcaldy

Eyemouth

CrailAnstruther

Sanquhar

Wanlockhead

New Galloway

Melrose KelsoColdstream

Burwick

St Margaret’s Hope

Aultbea

Mellon Udrigle

Buckie

KeithFochabers

Lossiemouth

Carrbridge

Kincraig

Hamilton

Coatbridge

Motherwell

Paisley

Larne

Alva

Bo'nessRosyth

Auchterarder

Burntisland

RoslinNewtongrangeDalkeithOld Craighall

Leven

Mauchline

NorthKessock

Drimnin

Laga

Ballycastle

Beauly

GLASGOW

ABERDEEN

INVERNESS

DUNDEEPERTH

NEWCASTLEUPON TYNE

EDINBURGH

BELFAST

STIRLING

Cairngorms

National Park

Loch Lomond and the TrossachsNational Park

Cairngorms

National Park

Loch Lomond and the TrossachsNational Park

LEWIS

HARRIS

BARRA

Canna

Rum

Eigg

Muck

Coll

Tiree

Colonsay

Iona

GighaBute

Seil

Lismore

Ardnamurchan

Luing

RAASAY

NORTHUIST

SOUTHUIST

MULL

JURA

ISLAY

ARRAN

Mull OfGalloway

SKYE

SCALPAY

BERNERAY

ORKNEY

SANDAY

STRONSAYEday

ROUSAY

HOYSOUTH RONALDSAY

BENBECULA

Globe InnRobert BurnsCentre

Mauchline

Dean Castle

AyrAuld Kirk

Brig o’DoonBurns Cottage

Burns Monumentand Memorial Gardens

EllislandFarm

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24

85

7

6

9 10

3

0 10 20 30 405 Miles

0 25 5012.5 Kilometers

© MFAtech [email protected]+44 (0) 207 871 1332Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011

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23-Burns-our national poet_SCOTLAND_MAP_FINAL.pdf 1 3/17/2015 11:44:59 AM

Robert Burns is remembered in Scotland in a way shared by no other poet. Today, his words are still read, his songs still sung and his birthday celebrated. Born in a humble cottage, he knew a life of toil as a poor farmer, yet found the inspiration to produce enduring works of love, passion, drama and humour. This tour explores Ayrshire, the area of his early years, and also around Dumfries where he eventually lived, and then returns to Edinburgh, the city that first feted him as a literary sensation.

In the Footsteps of Robert Burns

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BURNS MONUMENT, ALLOWAY – Opened in 1823, it was designed to give visitors a view of the landscape that inspired Robert Burns. Look out for Masonic symbolism incorporated into the design.

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ROBERT BURNS CENTRE, DUMFRIES Housed in a former mill building, this visitor centre features an audio-visual theatre, an exhibition on Burns’ life and work, as well as a bookshop and cafe. Burns House, where the poet spent his final years, is also in Dumfries.

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GLOBE INN, DUMFRIES – Burns’ favourite pub is still open and the annual tradition of Burns Suppers is said to have started here. His favourite seat still survives, and some of his poetry, scratched by the poet on window glass, may still be seen.

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ELLISLAND FARM, NEAR DUMFRIES Rented by Burns for three years from 1788. Now a museum and visitor attraction giving an insight into the poet’s struggle with the land. ‘My farm is a ruinous bargain’ Burns wrote in 1790, shortly after starting a new career with the Excise.

AULD KIRK, ALLOWAY – Immortalised as the setting of the witches’ dance in Tam o’ Shanter, this picturesque ruin was already in disrepair by Burns’ day. The poet’s father and other relatives are buried here.

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