Arts & Culture

Ayrshire, the birthplace of Robert Burns, was an inspiration to Burns throughout his life. From observing nature at Mossgiel Farm as a ploughman to drinking in Mauchline at Poosie Nansie's Inn, Ayrshire furnished Burns with characters, situations and places that made his writing unique and alive.

Places

Burns National Heritage Park in Alloway has many places connected to Robert Burns including Burns cottage, the birthplace of Robert Burns.

Brig O' Doon

Adjacent to the cottage is the museum which holds artefacts relating to Burns' life and works including the original manuscript of Auld Lang Syne.

The Burns monument overlooks the Brig O'Doon, the scene of Tam O' Shanter's narrow escape. Nearby is Alloway Auld Kirk where Tam O' Shanter witnessed 'auld Nick, in shape o' beast'.

The Tam O' Shanter experience brings the tale to life in an audio-visual presentation. 

The statue house in the Monument gardens include statues of Tam O' Shanter, Souter Johnnie and Nanse Tissock by 19th Century sculptor James Thom.

Burns statue, Kilmarnock

In Kirkoswald, South Ayrshire you can visit the cottage of John Davidson, who was the original Souter Johnnie in Tam O’ Shanter.

The Bachelor’s Club in Tarbolton is the place where Burns would meet on the fourth Monday of each month with other unmarried men for discussion and debate.

Mossgiel Farm in Mauchline was home to Burns when he was ploughman-poet and wrote many of his best loved works. Nearby in Mauchline is 'Poosie Nansies' Inn, a favourite haunt of Burns.

People

Robert Burns was influenced by many of the people he met in Ayrshire and they were to provide him with inspiration for his poetry and works of literature.

Burns monument

Nellie Kilpatrick worked with Burns on his fathers farm at Mount Oliphant and inspired Burns’ first attempt at poetry, 'O, Once I Lov’d A Bonnie Lass'. She was known as ‘Handsome Nell’.

The love of Burn's life, Jean Armour was born in Mauchline, Ayrshire in 1765. She met Robert Burns on a drying green in Mauchline around 1784, when she chased his dog away from her laundry. Jean was Burns' only wife and gave birth to nine of his children, including two sets of twins before they were married in 1788.

Mary Campbell or 'Highland Mary' become romantically involved with Burns after Jean Armour was moved to Paisley by her father, after Armour fell pregnant. Burns had planned to emigrate to Jamaica with Mary but this fell through and Mary died through illness in 1786. Burns dedicated the poems 'The Highland Lassie O',' Highland Mary' and 'To Mary in Heaven' to her.

John Davidson was a shoemaker or souter and the inspiration for 'Souter Johnnie' in the poem Tam O’ Shanter. In 1785 he built a cottage on the Main Street in Kirkoswald in which he lived and worked until his death. The cottage is now a museum.

Willie Fisher was an elder of the kirk in Mauchline. He was brought to shame by Robert Burns in ‘Holy Willie’s Prayer’.

Poetry

Listen to a selection of Burn's poems connected to the area

To listen to more of Burn's works go to