Introduction

This evening, I am focusing on the charming village of Alloway which is located close to Ayr, south of Glasgow.

This village is synonymous with Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Poet, who was born here on Jan 25th 1759. The birth occurred in a two-roomed thatched cottage built in 1757 by his father, William. This building still exists (see image above) and has been transformed into a visitor attraction. Effectively, Alloway is now a Burns’ ‘shrine’ featuring the birthplace, Auld Kirk, Burns Monument, Birthplace Museum and the Brig O’ Doon. All of these key sites are featured below.

Information on Alloway

The name Alloway embodies the early Irish (Gaelic) word all, meaning rock. This word does not feature in current usage of Gaelic.

Here is one of the interior rooms of Burns’ Cottage, presented in style of the 18th century. This building is now owned/managed by Scotland’s National Trust and has been re-named as Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. The garden at rear of the cottage is also managed along the lines consistent with the 18th century.

Here is the ruined Auld Kirk, setting for the enormously popular poem “Tam O’Shanter”.

Burns, published his greatest poem, Tam o’ Shanter, in 1791 He used the ruin of Kirk Alloway as the setting for the gathering of witches and warlocks. This group gave away his presence, then pursued Tam and his horse, Meg, as far as the Brig o’ Doon. 

Extract from the poem Tam O’Shanter in modern English:

“Warlocks and witches in a dance;
No formal dance, brand new from France,
But hornpipes, jigs strathspeys, and reels,
Put life and strength in their heels.
A window seat in the east,
There sat Old Nick, in shape of beast;
A shaggy dog, black, grim, and large,
To give them music was his charge:
He squeezed the bagpipes and made them howl,
Till roof and rafters all did ring.”

More Alloway visitor sites

This is the Grecian style Burns Monument which dates from 1823. Inside is a small museum. The Monument offers a good vantage point to view the nearby Brig O’Doon.

Here is the Auld Brig O’Doon  (Old Bridge over River Doon). This bridge was made famous as the setting for Tam O’Shanter’s mare Meg losing her tail to the witch Nannie.

Video clip of Ayr Pipe Band at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway.

(Alloway is just three miles from the centre of Ayr.)

More information

The publication Visitors’ Guide to Scotland incorporates sections on Robert Burns and the town of Ayr. ISBN is 978-1-9161332-0-4. Also available via Kindle.