Follow in his Footsteps
Burns travelled around Scotland, gaining inspiration for many of his poems and songs. You too can travel around Scotland and follow in his footsteps, learning more about the man himself and more about Scotland's rich and diverse heritage.
These are just some of the areas throughout Scotland, which we hope will provide you with the inspiration to take a short break in Scotland. The Home of Burns.
Bachelors' Club
Sandgate Street, Tarbolton, South
Ayrshire, KA5 5RB
A chance to find out more about Burns in
this 17th-century thatched house. Burns attended dancing lessons here in
1779 and formed a debating club here in 1780 and drew up the 10 rules of
membership for the society. One rule stated that to be a member you had to
be a bachelor living in the parish of Tarbolton thus the property earned
its name ‘Bachelor’s Club’ No doubt he and his
friends would have heatedly discussed the topics of the day before drinking
their fill at the inn next door. Burns was also initiated as a Freemason
here in 1781. Owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland since
1938.
Open: 21 March to 30 Sept, Friday to
Tuesday 1-5
tel 0844 493 2146
Souter
Johnnie's Cottage
Main Road, Kirkoswald, Suth Ayrshire, KA19
8HY
Souter Johnnie was a character in the
Burns poem Tam o' Shanter. Souter Johnnie's real name was John Davidson
(Souter is an old name for a shoemaker) and he and his family lived here.
The thatched cottage was built in 1785 and is furnished in period
style, and also contains Burns memorabilia, as well as a workshop
displaying the tools of the village souter. In the restored ale-house
in the cottage garden, there are life-sized stone figures of the souter,
Tam, the innkeeper and his wife sitting around the fire. Souter Johnnie
lived in this cottage until he died in 1806. Owned and managed by the
National Trust for Scotland since 1932.
Open:
21 March to 30 Sept, Friday to Tuesday 11.30-5
tel 0844 493 2147
Points of Interest
1. Mauchline - Take a trip to the Burns House Museum or the National Burns Memorial Tower, plus more.
2. Edinburgh - Take a trip to the Capital and enjoy perusing the extensive collections and artefacts relating to the life and works of Burns.
3. Dumfires - take a visit to Dumfries and explore the area where Burns spent the last years of his life.
4. Alloway - The birthplace of Scotland's best loved Bard has a vast array of attractions dedicated to the man himself, and the Burns National Heritage Park is a good starting place for any fact finding Burns trip.
5. Kilmarnock - take a trip to the place were Burn's first ever work was published.
6. Ayr - Celebrate Burns in a contemporary and modern way, with a trip to the burns an' a' that! Festival.
