Episode 97: ‘The First Seven Years’ – Robert Burns & Alloway
Let’s walk in the earliest footsteps of Robert Burns and explore the places in Alloway that influenced him.
‘The First Seven Years’ is part of the series A Year in Scotland. This is the January episode.
In this story we travel to Alloway, an unassuming suburb of Ayr on the southwest coast of Scotland. In 1759, Scotland’s most famous poet (and in-official patron saint) was born here: Robert Burns. Inspired by these humble beginnings as the son of a tenant farmer, we follow in the poet’s footsteps and discover locations and experiences that shaped his later writings.
From his birthplace, we walk along the Poet’s Path to hear about some of his characters. We visit a church and a bridge that played a significant role in one of Burns’s most influential poems. And wander through gardens to reflect upon his legacy.
After the story, I share with you my top tips for a trip to Alloway and Southern Ayrshire.
Big thanks to Chris Waddell, Learning Manager at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum for taking time to meet with me and chat about Robert Burns for background. You’ll hear Chris briefly in this episode too.
To listen to our full conversation, join the Wild for Scotland Social Club – the full interview is an exclusive members-only release.
Disclaimer: All information provided in this podcast is based on personal travel experiences. Companies mentioned in the story or tips were active at the time of release. If you listen to episodes at a later point, note that this information may have changed in the meantime.
Resources
Find out more about Alloway Auld Kirk and Brig o’ Doon
Everything you need to know about Burns Night Traditions
Read up on Robert Burns and his poetry
Find out more about the Scots language
Read Tam o’ Shanter in its entirety
Interested in research? Check out the Centre for Robert Burns Studies in Glasgow
BOOK: Burns for Every Day of the Year by Dr Pauline Mackay
BOOK: The Complete Poems and Songs of Robert Burns
5 Travel Tips for Alloway and Southern Ayrshire
1) Visit the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
Throughout the 19th and 20th century, members of the Robert Burns Monument Trust have collected items of interest related to the poet within a museum in Alloway. When in 2005, the collection was taken over by the National Trust for Scotland, it was time to build a new, modern museum that could welcome visitors and serve as a hub for the global community of Burns researchers.
The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum opened its doors to the public in 2010 and houses over 5,000 Burns-related items in its collection. Some are on display within the exhibition, but many more are tucked away, waiting for curators and researchers to tell their stories. The Museum works closely with the Robert Burns Centre at Glasgow Uni, and people like Chris ensure that Burns’s poems and songs reach people of all ages across Scotland.
Your museum ticket also gives you access to the Robert Burns Birthplace Cottage you heard about in today’s story.
2) Learn more about Tam o’Shanter at Rozelle House
A short walk brings you from the museum to the gardens of Rozelle House. It houses a collection of artworks and a range of objects and artefacts, but the centrepiece at its core is a collection of paintings by Alexander Goudie. Goudie felt inspired by Burns’s poem Tam o’Shanter and created a series of 54 paintings drawing inspiration from the words of the poet. A selection of them is always on display here.
3) Head to Greenan Beach
When you’re done exploring Alloway in Burns’s footsteps, make your way to the coast and enjoy the sands of Greenan Beach. Popular especially among dog walkers, this beach offers stunning views of the long bay of Ayr to the north, and the crumbling ruins of Greenan Castle towering over the sands to the south.
4) Continue exploring the coast of South Ayrshire
The coast of South Ayrshire is littered with sheltered bays, hidden coves, ominous ruins and fairytale castles – it’s well worth exploring the wider area south of Alloway. Some of my favourite spots are the beach and castle ruin at Dunure, the grand house and gardens of Culzean Castle, and the sandy beach south of Turnberry Lighthouse.
5) Immerse yourself in a coastal adventure
If you’d like to get up close and personal with the sea on the South Ayrshire Coast, book an outdoor activity with Adventure Carrick. I tried coasteering near Girvan and thoroughly enjoyed exploring the intricate rock formations that are otherwise inaccessible on foot.
