About Dumfries
A historic market town built along the banks of the River Nith, Dumfries is a former royal burgh with plenty of links to Scotland’s most famous poet.
Staying in Dumfries links you to fantastic destinations across Dumfries and Galloway, as well as the rest of Scotland. Enjoy the tranquil surroundings of the region, with a fantastic range of activities for those of any age, interest and ability.
Locations
The Hermitage
Located in the grounds of Friars Carse House Hotel, Burns used The Hermitage as a place to write poetry.
Friars Carse Country House Hotel
Now a grand hotel, Friars Carse was once ‘Glenriddell’, home of Captain Robert Riddell, where Burns was a frequent guest.
Ellisland Farm
Burns’ home for three years, some of the his best and most recognised works were written at Ellisland Farm..
The Globe Inn
Burns’ favourite ‘howff’, the poet frequented The Globe Inn during his time in Dumfries, eating and drinking with companions.
Theatre Royal
Burns was heavily involved in the construction of a theatre while he lived in Dumfries and continued to patronise the Theatre Royal during his years in the town.
Burns Mausoleum
In St. Michael’s kirkyard, with the church’s impressive spire dominating the skyline, you will find Burns’ final resting place.
Robert Burns Statue
The dominant position of the statue shows the honour in which Robert Burns is held in Dumfries.
Jean Armour Statue
The statue of Jean Armour in Dumfries was erected by the Burns Howff Club opposite St Michael’s Kirk, the site of the Burns Mausoleum, in 2004.
Robert Burns Centre
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 18th century.
Robert Burns House
A simple sandstone house on a quiet Dumfries side street, Robert Burns House is where the poet spent the final years of his life before he died here in 1796.
THE BROW WELL
Brow Well is now a place for Burns enthusiasts to visit and contemplate his life and poetry.
Getting around
Whether you’re looking for a way to spend a morning in the town centre, or you want to follow in Burns’ footsteps across Dumfriesshire, there are a number of ways to get around the area.
Thanks to its rural location, cars are one of the easiest ways to explore Dumfries and the surrounding area. If you are looking to travel to Ellisland and the Hermitage, or Brow Well, then we would recommend doing so by car.
There are trains to Dumfries from Carlisle in the South and Glasgow in the North. If you are travelling by train and plan to spend a day in the town, the ‘In the footsteps of Burns’ town centre trail can be completed on foot.
Once you are in the town, Dumfries is easy to explore on foot. We would recommend starting at the VisitScotland iCentre on the Whitesands to get the most up to date recommendations.
Dumfries and the wider region is a very popular destination for cyclists. With access to Scotland’s excellent 7stanes mountain biking locations, many cycling enthusiasts choose to take a break in Dumfries and Galloway. Although sites such as Ellisland and Brow Well are accessible by bike, they would involve cycling along busy thoroughfares.
Brow Well is a pleasant bike ride from Dumfries on Sustrans National Cycle Network Route 7 between Dumfries and Annan.
