Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 28 on 20/09/2006.

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Scotland's Burning passion (Robert Burns)

In the latest in our series of legendary Scots, Mark Nicholls sets off on the trail of Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns

His memory is celebrated every year on Burns Night.

On the eve of January 25, suppers, toasts and recitations mark the occasion of the birth of Scotland’s national bard.

Robert Burns was born in 1759 in Alloway, close to the town of Ayr in 1759 on Scotland’s south west coast. However, it is not only in Scotland that such ritual takes place. Across the world Scots pause to honour one of their most famous sons.

We also bring in each New Year with a rousing rendition of perhaps Burns’ most famous work, Auld Lang Syne. Yet in his 37 years, he wrote so much more – Tam O’Shanter, The Brigs of Ayr, and quantities of love songs – before he died in 1796 in Dumfries, where he spent the last years of his adult life.

It is in Alloway and Dumfries, in southern Lowland Scotland, where you can learn virtually all you need to know more about Scotland’s most famous poet.

Robert Burns was born in the village of Alloway in a thatched cottage built by his father, William, a small farmer. The area is rich with places linked to the poet and his birthplace is a logical starting point in a region that has become known as the ‘Land o’ Burns’.

The Burns National Heritage Park has been established, centred on the family cottage which is affectionately known as Auld Clay Biggin, and has been restored to much the same condition that it was in when the poet was alive.

Heritage Park manager Caroline Glenn said: “Burns is extremely important to this area, and visitors from all over the world come to.....

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By Mark Nicholls

Section : Scottish Legends

Page number : 64