Scottish literature: Robert Burns

Uncover Robert Burns’ fascinating life

Discover the fascinating life of Scotland’s most famous poet, Robert Burns, as you explore landmarks that inspired his work and museums dedicated to his life in the Year of Creative Scotland.

Travel to Ayrshire & Arran and see where Scotland’s National Bard was born. Spend a day at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum which houses the biggest and most important Burns collection in the world, including his writing set, pistols and even a cast of his skull.

The museum is set in 10 acres of beautiful Alloway countryside and the site includes a collection of buildings and landmarks that are all connected to the famous poet’s life including the Burns Monument, Burns Cottage ‘The Auld Clay Biggin’ where he was born in 1759, and both Alloway Kirk and the Brig O’ Doon from his famous poem Tam O’ Shanter.

Take a trip to Dumfries & Galloway and follow in Burns’ footsteps as he moved to the region with his family in 1788. Visit his former home Ellisland Farm, now a museum that features some of his original writings and possessions.

Spend an afternoon at Burns’ final home, Robert Burns House on the aptly named Burns Street. Discover the famous Kilmarnock and Edinburgh editions of Burns’ work and take a look around the study where he wrote some of his best-known poems.

Enjoy a drink in The Globe Inn, Burns’ local ‘howff’, or pub, and see his old chair in the bar but beware - if you sit on it you have to either recite a line from one of his poems or buy all customers a drink!

Over in Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, you can visit the Writers Museum and learn more about the poet in the permanent Robert Burns collection. Admire the museum’s collection of portraits of Burns and see the writing desk at which he wrote some of his best-known work in his Dumfries home.