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Robert Burns

the white buildings of Ellisland Farm - once rented by Robert Burns

Ellisland Farm

the Robert Burns Centre & Film Theatre by the river in Dumfries

the Robert Burns Centre & Film Theatre

pictures and furniture inside Robert Burns House Museum

Robert Burns House Museum

the exterior of Robert Burns' house

Robert Burns' house

Follow the life of Scotland’s National Bard through his last years by visiting the home, farm and favourite inn of Robert Burns.

Dumfries is a great place to learn more about this famous poet - during his final years in the town he produced work which is still heard, read and discussed around the world. Robert Burns House, his former home in Burns Street, now serves as a dedicated museum where you can see the desk and chair where he sat to write, more than 200 years ago.

In the town’s 18th century watermill, you can find the Robert Burns Centre, which brings his story to life with original manuscripts and personal belongings. There is also a brilliant scale model of Dumfries in the 1790s and a haunting audio-visual presentation.

Spend a morning at Ellisland Farm, another home of the poet, who was inspired by the beautiful and tranquil setting. It is now a fascinating museum where you can see his original writings and possessions before taking a stroll along the idyllic spot beside the River Nith where he composed Tam O' Shanter. Take a guided tour of the farmhouse to see the rooms where the poet and his wife, Jean Armour, lived and worked.

Established in 1610, the Globe Inn was Burns’ local ‘howff’ or pub, and is still open today. Staff will be happy to provide a tour and show you the bars, Burns’ bedroom and letters written by the Bard himself.

Burns’ chair is still in the bar, but if you sit on it you must either recite a line from one of his poems or buy all the customers in the bar a drink!

Also in the town, in St Michael’s Kirkyard is the impressive mausoleum where Burns, his widow Jean and five of his family lie. His remains were moved here in 1815 to this fitting location, from a spot just to the left of the structure.