Burns Attractions
Follow in his Footsteps
Perfectly Placed
South-West Scotland is very much ‘Burns Country’. Discover the views and calm, charming and beautiful Scottish countryside that Robert Burns not only called home for the best part of his life, but also from where he drew so much inspiration.
Ellisland Farm is conveniently situated on the road between Robert Burns’ birthplace in Alloway and his final resting place at St Michael’s Churchyard in Dumfries, home to many other popular Burns related landmarks.
Robert Burns Centre
Situated on the banks of the River Nith in the centre of Dumfries, the Robert Burns Centre tells the story of Burns’ life in the town. A converted 18th century water mill, the Robert Burns Centre also hosts the Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre, which screens a mixture of contemporary independent cinema as well as foreign language and arthouse films, documentaries, live events and classic films.
The Globe Inn
Still open today, The Globe was Burns’ favourite place for a dram in Dumfries. His local pub, or ‘howff’, Burns would have spent a lot of time here during his years working as an exciseman.
The Globe has a range of fantastic Burns artefacts, including the very chair that he would have sat in!
Robert Burns House
Discover significant artefacts from Burns’ life in Dumfries at this simple home where he spent the last years of his life.
Robert Burns House shows us how the poet and his family lived in the late eighteenth century, with atmospheric room displays and and is now a place of pilgrimage for Burns enthusiasts from around the world. The sales area has books, gifts and keepsakes, all with a Burns connection.
It was in 1796, on this quiet street in the centre of Dumfries, that he died at just 37.
Burns Mausoleum
Robert burns’ final resting place is in St Michael’s churchyard in the centre of Dumfries. At the Eastern end of the kirkyard, the mausoleum is a fitting tribute to one of Scotland’s most famous writers,
Burns Statue
An iconic site in Dumfries town centre, the Robert Burns statue pays homage to Scotland’s bard and the time he spent in Dumfriesshire. From his home here at Ellisland to the places he frequented in Dumfries itself, Burns’ life and works are evident across the region.
Friars Carse
A short walk from Ellisland Farm, Friars Carse was the home of Captain Robert Riddell, who was so fond of Burns that he gave the poet keys to his summer cottage. “The Hermitage” was a place where Burns frequently went to write, taking in the banks of the River Nith on his journey.
Now a beautiful hotel, visitors can walk to Friars Carse and see The Hermitage, returning to Ellisland Farm along the banks of the Nith, just as Burns would have.
Jean Armour Statue
The Jean Armour statue was designed and funded by the Burns Howff Club in 2004. The statue features Jean Armour as she would have looked during the time she and Burns lived at Ellisland Farm.
Visitors can find the statue opposite St Michael’s Kirk, the site of the Burns Mausoleum.
Visit
There is so much to see at Ellisland Museum & Farm, so please allow at least an hour for a short visit and two to three hours for a full visit. We’re a short, 5 mile drive from the centre of nearby Dumfries, just off the A76.
About Ellisland
Burns experienced his most creative and fruitful years here at Ellisland. He found great poetic inspiration in the beauty of the surrounding countryside, the various people he met and the events he witnessed whilst living here.
The Burns Collection
The Trust has a significant material culture collection that relates principally to the life, work, and legacy of Robert Burns, his family and friends, and, specifically, to his time living at Ellisland and in Dumfriesshire (1788 – 1796).