Come with us and enjoy this unique encounter with Scotland’s favourite son, Robert Burns. Experience the famous sites in Alloway where Burns lived and was inspired to write his most famous work. We will also discover the beauty of the Ayrshire coast and the stunning Culzean castle and its pleasure gardens.

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Rates

Private Tour: (1-6 people) £550

Suitable from +5 years old

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Duration

9.5 hours

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Tour details

• Departs from your accommodation at 9am or 8am from Edinburgh.
• Return at 6pm approximately.
• Important information – Bring waterproof clothing and walking shoes.
• Transportation & air conditioning as standard.
• The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide.
• Tour exclusions – Entry fees to visitor attractions.
• Estimated cash needed for lunch and visitor attractions would be £40.

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Tour highlights

• Culzean castle and gardens – Experience the beauty of the castle and it’s pleasure grounds
• The Burns Cottage – A guided tour of the cosy 3 bedroom cottage where Burns was born and lived until he was 7 years old.
• The Burns monument and gardens – Designed by Sir Thomas Hamilton.
• The Brig O’ Doon - Follow in Tam o'Shanter's footsteps across the cobblestone bridge over the River Doon.
• Alloway Auld Kirk - Visit the graves of Burns' father and sister in this 16th century church ruin, 'where ghaists and houlets nightly cry'.
• The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum - Listen to his words, handle objects connected to the man, play games that unravel his mysteries and enjoy visual artworks.

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Itinerary

We will set off down towards the beautiful Ayrshire coastline and visit our first location of the day, Culzean Castle. Take a walk through the beautiful walled gardens and enjoy the breath taking views over the Firth of Clyde towards the Isle of Arran. A guided tour of the castle is also a must, so you can really appreciate the beauty of the décor and architecture of this unique Ayrshire Castle. We will then continue the road to Alloway where Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns was born. Here we will visit many places mentioned in his poems like the Brig o’ Doon and the Alloway Old Kirk. The Burns museum will tell you everything you need to know about this great man, with many of the poet’s manuscripts on display. We will then take a walk through the famous Burns gardens where you will find a 70-foot high Grecian-style temple, designed by Sir Thomas Hamilton, complete with nine pillars representing muses from Greek mythology built in memory of Burns less than 20 years after his death. We will have lunch at the Brig o' Doon House Hotel before visiting the 15th century Bridge where Burns was influenced to write one of his most famous poems, Tam o’ Shanter. It is the bridge that Tam o’ Shanter crossed on horseback, fleeing from the witches and warlocks on his tail who were unable to follow him across water. Just a short walk and across the way and we will be inside the grounds of the Auld Kirk where we will visit the graves of Burns’ father and sister. This 16th century church was already a ruin during Burns’ lifetime and used for the spot where Tam spies on the witches and warlocks who gave him chase. We will then visit the famous Burns cottage where he and his family lived for a guided tour. The walls of the cottage have been artfully painted with fragments of his verse and a braw selection of Scots words, such as ‘hawkie’ and ‘crambo-jingle.’