Introduction
This evening, I am posting information on the famous Brig O’Doon at Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland about forty miles S.W. of Glasgow near Ayr.
Information on Brig O’Doon
Brig O’Doon is a Scots-English term for ‘Bridge over the River Doon’.
The bridge is categorised as a 22m, single-span arch bridge.It dates from the late 1400s but no longer carries vehicular traffic.
Scotland’s National Poet, Robert Burns, immortalised the bridge in his poem Tam O’Shanter. Here Tam and Meg (horse) escape the clutches of the witch Nannie by galloping over the Brig O’Doon. This escapade left Nannie with nothing more than Meg’s tail.
Extract from the poem, Tam O’Shanter (modern English version)
Ah, Tom! Ah, Tom! You will get what’s coming!
In hell they will roast you like a herring!
In vain your Kate awaits your coming !
Kate soon will be a woeful woman!
Now, do your speedy utmost, Meg,
And beat them to the key-stone of the bridge;
There, you may toss your tale at them,
A running stream they dare not cross!
But before the key-stone she could make,
She had to shake a tail at the fiend;
For Nannie, far before the rest,
Hard upon noble Maggie pressed,
And flew at Tam with furious aim;
But little knew she Maggie’s mettle!
One spring brought off her master whole,
But left behind her own grey tail:
The witch caught her by the rump,
And left poor Maggie scarce a stump.
More information on the bridge and locality
Burns would be familiar with the bridge as he was born about one mile away, in the same village.
The bridge has lent its name to the 1947 musical, Brigadoon by Lerner and Loewe which was followed by the 1954 film of the musical starring Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse.
The immaculately maintained hotel close to the bridge is a popular weddings venue.
Other Burns connected sites in Alloway are:
- Birthplace
- Monument.
- Auld Kirk.
- Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.
More information for the tourist
The publication Visitors’ Guide to Scotland includes a section on Robert Burns. ISBN is 978-1-9161332-0-4. Also available via Kindle.