Other Stuff
GOOD THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN DUMFRIES
ROBERT BURNS HOUSE, BURNS STREET
When you approach this house, just remember it's not the building with the big arrow painted on a gable end. I spent a while taking superb camera shots from every angle of what turned out to be the wrong house. Sigh! This is where Robert Burns lived and spent the last few years of his life. It is a most sobering experience to stand alone in the small bedroom in which he died. They still have the very desk and chair he used when writing. Even if you do not know who Robert Burns was, you cannot visit Dumfries and not pay the house a visit.
When you approach this house, just remember it's not the building with the big arrow painted on a gable end. I spent a while taking superb camera shots from every angle of what turned out to be the wrong house. Sigh! This is where Robert Burns lived and spent the last few years of his life. It is a most sobering experience to stand alone in the small bedroom in which he died. They still have the very desk and chair he used when writing. Even if you do not know who Robert Burns was, you cannot visit Dumfries and not pay the house a visit.
DUMFRIES MUSEUM, ROTCHELL
ROAD
This is a good museum. I am always quite astonished to find such places practically empty of visitors. Why is that? Are tourists such mindless sheep that they are only interested in stuff with a Burns connection? Heavens, guys, you're missing so much more. As you may see from the photograph on the Dumfries main page of this website, the building started life as a windmill. It's on a good place for such a thing, as it sits on top of a small hill overlooking the town, a fine place to catch a breeze. When electricity came along and we reckoned we didn't need free wind, the windmill became surplus to requirements, and in 1836 the top floor was turned into a Camera Obscura. This survives to this day, and offers, 'a fascinating panoramic view of Dumfries and the surrounding countryside.' Amongst the excellent museum displays you will find a cast of Robert the Bruce's skull, and the death mask of one Robert Smith, a young labourer who was hanged for murder in Dumfries in 1868, and who was the last person to be publicly executed in Scotland.
This is a good museum. I am always quite astonished to find such places practically empty of visitors. Why is that? Are tourists such mindless sheep that they are only interested in stuff with a Burns connection? Heavens, guys, you're missing so much more. As you may see from the photograph on the Dumfries main page of this website, the building started life as a windmill. It's on a good place for such a thing, as it sits on top of a small hill overlooking the town, a fine place to catch a breeze. When electricity came along and we reckoned we didn't need free wind, the windmill became surplus to requirements, and in 1836 the top floor was turned into a Camera Obscura. This survives to this day, and offers, 'a fascinating panoramic view of Dumfries and the surrounding countryside.' Amongst the excellent museum displays you will find a cast of Robert the Bruce's skull, and the death mask of one Robert Smith, a young labourer who was hanged for murder in Dumfries in 1868, and who was the last person to be publicly executed in Scotland.
OLD BRIDGE HOUSE MUSEUM, MILL STREET
This is a delightful little house that sits at one end of the town's 15th century bridge. It's one of those places where a guide will launch into a small speech about the history of the building as soon as you set foot in it. I sometimes wish such guides had a switch at the side of their head so you could turn them off, although that would probably be a bit unfair as invariably they are a mine of information. Personally, I like to wander around such places on my own, sneaking here, creeping there, occasionally pausing to run my fingers over a piece of ancient furniture or a crumbling sandstone wall. And then, when something springs to mind, I may ask a question, like, 'Excuse me, where is your switch?' [Open April to September.]
This is a delightful little house that sits at one end of the town's 15th century bridge. It's one of those places where a guide will launch into a small speech about the history of the building as soon as you set foot in it. I sometimes wish such guides had a switch at the side of their head so you could turn them off, although that would probably be a bit unfair as invariably they are a mine of information. Personally, I like to wander around such places on my own, sneaking here, creeping there, occasionally pausing to run my fingers over a piece of ancient furniture or a crumbling sandstone wall. And then, when something springs to mind, I may ask a question, like, 'Excuse me, where is your switch?' [Open April to September.]
ST MICHAEL'S CHURCHYARD
This is an excellent graveyard near Robert Burns House. As well as the Burns Mausoleum, there are informative signs all over the place telling you about some of the people that Burns knew and who are also buried in this place. There are tours available, and you can ask at the Robert Burns House for details.
This is an excellent graveyard near Robert Burns House. As well as the Burns Mausoleum, there are informative signs all over the place telling you about some of the people that Burns knew and who are also buried in this place. There are tours available, and you can ask at the Robert Burns House for details.
CAERLAVEROCK CASTLE
This is an outstanding castle about eight miles south of Dumfries, on the east side of the River Nith. The B-road between Dumfries and the castle is part of a recognised cycle network, and the journey is very pleasant. The thing about Caerlaverock Castle, apart from being difficult to spell, is that it fulfils all your expectations of how a real castle should look. It is magnificent. [Open all year.]
This is an outstanding castle about eight miles south of Dumfries, on the east side of the River Nith. The B-road between Dumfries and the castle is part of a recognised cycle network, and the journey is very pleasant. The thing about Caerlaverock Castle, apart from being difficult to spell, is that it fulfils all your expectations of how a real castle should look. It is magnificent. [Open all year.]
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