‘In the Footsteps of Burns’ tells the story of the poet’s “work hard/play hard” life in and around Dumfries. It’s well known that Burns spent his final years in Dumfries and Galloway, writing some of his best-known works including Tam o’Shanter and Auld Lang Syne, and building a life for his family.
Ellisland Farm
Robert Burns’ family home on the banks of the River Nith. You can see the house that Burns built for his young family, and the place that inspired many of his celebrated works, including the walk where he wrote ‘Tam o’Shanter’ and the field that inspired ‘On Seeing a Wounded Hare’.
The Globe Inn
Burns’ favourite howff, The Globe Inn is still serving delicious food and drink today. Have a peek into the original dining room where he sat and entertained his companions. Visit Mrs Hyslop’s kitchen where Burns’ favourite Scottish meals were prepared and don’t miss his atmospheric bed chamber.
The Robert Burns Centre
Situated in the town’s eighteenth century watermill on the west bank of the River Nith, the Robert Burns Centre tells the story of Robert Burns’ last years spent in the bustling streets and lively atmosphere of Dumfries in the late eighteenth century.
Robert Burns House
It was in this simple sandstone house in a quiet Dumfries street that Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet, spent the last years of his life. He died here in 1796 at the age of just thirty seven.
Friars Carse Country Hotel
Now a grand hotel, Friars Carse was once ‘Glenriddell’, home of Captain Robert Riddell, where Burns was a frequent guest.
Just along the River, a 30 min walk from Ellisland Farm, Friars Carse is the perfect base for exploring… and a spot of lunch or afternoon tea!
Other sites of interest
There are a number of sites of interest in and around Dumfries, from his final resting place at Burns Mausoleum to Brow Well, which was renowned in the 18th century for the apparent healing qualities of its waters and was where Burns visited just three days before his death.
