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Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Bard (From Glasgow)
Discover on This Tour
- Burns Cottage, Poet’s Path and Alloway Kirk
- Brig O’Doon, Burns Monument and Memorial Garden
- Burns Birthplace Museum
- Burns House
- Burns Mausoleum
About This Tour
This is a private, full day, driver-guided tour. Your expert guide will pick you up and drop you off at your Glasgow accommodation with their vehicle. This tour is also available from Edinburgh.
Tour Itinerary
We begin our journey in Glasgow and head southwest out of the city towards the Burns heartland of Alloway. On arrival, our first stop will be at Burns Cottage.
Built in 1757, this tiny dwelling welcomed Scotland’s beloved poet Robert Burns into the world just two years later, and careful restoration has ensured the cottage has changed little since. The bard’s birthplace remains true to its humble origins, allowing visitors to step back in time to the days of Burns’ childhood. We will explore the cottage, with its intimate and fascinating glimpse into daily life on an 18th century Scottish smallholding.
From the cottage we will stroll down Poet’s Path, reliving the tale of Tam o’ Shanter, one of Burns’ most famous protagonists. Making our way to the Auld Alloway Kirk, we will discover the ancient ruined church that provided the perfect ghostly setting for the tale. Continuing in Tam’s footsteps we will come to the Brig o’ Doon, a medieval stone arched bridge over the River Doon. Thought to have been built in the 1400s, the bridge offers fine views on all sides as well as a pivotal role in Burns’ epic narrative poem.
Next we will enter the Burns Memorial Garden, a peaceful spot offering scenic views and further commemoration of the bard and his life. Here we will see the Burns Monument, rising out of the gardens in Grecian splendour.
After lunch we will visit the Burns Birthplace Museum, exploring exhibitions that offer a unique chance to get up close and personal with Burns’s genius and legacy.
Getting back on the road, we will drive to the town of Dumfries and visit Robert Burns House, where Scotland’s favourite son lived out his final years and penned some of his best-known works. In this modest sandstone residence frequented by famous figures of the past, we will find an intriguing collection of Burns’ personal belongings and original manuscripts.
Proceeding from here we will make a final stop at the nearby Burns Mausoleum, before returning to Glasgow where the tour will finish.
Photos: Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Bard (From Glasgow)
About Your Guide
Our local, expert guides are simply the best in the business, and the primary ingredient in what makes our tours great.
As passionate ambassadors for Scotland, our guides bring Scotland to life through their knowledge, personal stories and life experiences, allowing you to truly immerse yourself into the best our country has to offer. In their safe and capable hands, you can rest assured you’re being well looked after from start to finish. So relax as we take you on an unforgettable journey to discover our rich history, proud heritage, unique culture, and breathtaking landscapes.
All of our guides are passionate expert freelance tourist guides. They are trained to the highest level of tourist guide certification in Scotland by the Scottish Tourist Guides Association, meeting European Standards CEN EN15565:2008 and accredited by both the European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations and the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations.
Where & When
Start: Your guide will meet you with their vehicle at your Glasgow accommodation at 9AM.
Finish: At the end of the tour your guide will drop you off at your Glasgow accommodation at approximately 7PM.
Activity Level
Easy Activity: Driver-Guided tour by private vehicle with some walking involved to visit attractions
FAQs
Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Bard (From Glasgow)
