Other Stuff
GOOD THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN MAUCHLINE
BURNS HOUSE MUSEUM, CASTLE STREET
Part of this museum is the one small room in which Robert Burns and Jean Armour actually stayed between March and December 1788. At the time, Burns rented the room from Archibald Meikle, a tailor. It's a very small room, mostly taken up by a large bed, and one can only imagine what the pair felt as they got on with that serious business of living in such cramped conditions. But it's also a museum, and in glass cases you can see all sorts of things, ranging from a delightful collection of small decorated boxes to items with a Burns connection, like 'Page 2 of the Twa Dogs - A Tale', a cup belonging to Jean Armour, a fragment of wood from John Wilson's printing press, and numerous letters written by Burns to various people. The short section of Castle Street in which the museum is located has a nice atmospheric feel to it. The building across the lane from the main museum was once an ale-house kept by Nanse (or Agnes) Tinnock. Burns referred to her as 'a worthy old Hostess'. [Museum is free, and open Tuesdays to Saturdays, with the exception of public holidays, when it is closed.]
Part of this museum is the one small room in which Robert Burns and Jean Armour actually stayed between March and December 1788. At the time, Burns rented the room from Archibald Meikle, a tailor. It's a very small room, mostly taken up by a large bed, and one can only imagine what the pair felt as they got on with that serious business of living in such cramped conditions. But it's also a museum, and in glass cases you can see all sorts of things, ranging from a delightful collection of small decorated boxes to items with a Burns connection, like 'Page 2 of the Twa Dogs - A Tale', a cup belonging to Jean Armour, a fragment of wood from John Wilson's printing press, and numerous letters written by Burns to various people. The short section of Castle Street in which the museum is located has a nice atmospheric feel to it. The building across the lane from the main museum was once an ale-house kept by Nanse (or Agnes) Tinnock. Burns referred to her as 'a worthy old Hostess'. [Museum is free, and open Tuesdays to Saturdays, with the exception of public holidays, when it is closed.]
THE NATIONAL BURNS MEMORIAL, MAUCHLINE
This Victorian baronial tower is not generally open to the public. It sits on the northern edge of the town, and can only be seen by appointment, which is a shame, because I would like to have seen inside it but in turning up out of the blue I was not prepared for phoning and booking and so on. On my map it is marked as a Tourist Information Centre, but that obviously closed. Back in the 1920s, according to an old guide book I have, you could gain entry for a mere 2d, or two old pence.
This Victorian baronial tower is not generally open to the public. It sits on the northern edge of the town, and can only be seen by appointment, which is a shame, because I would like to have seen inside it but in turning up out of the blue I was not prepared for phoning and booking and so on. On my map it is marked as a Tourist Information Centre, but that obviously closed. Back in the 1920s, according to an old guide book I have, you could gain entry for a mere 2d, or two old pence.
MOSSGIEL FARM, MAUCHLINE
This is not a tourist attraction, so for goodness sake don't go knocking on folks doors and asking to see the bit of ground ploughed by Robert Burns or you may find yourself given a large clout on the side of the head. The farm is about half-a-mile past the Burns National Memorial (left-hand fork in road). According to the roadside plaque, Burns farmed here between 1784 and 1786. He ploughed a furrow or two, a tradition that is kept alive today by horse-drawn ploughing competitions.
This is not a tourist attraction, so for goodness sake don't go knocking on folks doors and asking to see the bit of ground ploughed by Robert Burns or you may find yourself given a large clout on the side of the head. The farm is about half-a-mile past the Burns National Memorial (left-hand fork in road). According to the roadside plaque, Burns farmed here between 1784 and 1786. He ploughed a furrow or two, a tradition that is kept alive today by horse-drawn ploughing competitions.
MAUCHLINE KIRKYARD
Located between Poosie Nansie's pub and the Burns House Museum, there are many interesting graves in this place. An excellent leaflet is available for free from the museum, and I would highly recommend that you pick one up. Amongst those whose remains lie here will be found James Humphrey ('the bletherin' bitch'), Poosie Nansie, Nanse Tinnock, Holy Willie, and Gavin Hamilton (lawyer and friend of Burns). On one side of the churchyard you can see Gavin Hamilton's house, and glimpse (from the outside only) the small room in which Robert Burns and Jean Armour were married.
Located between Poosie Nansie's pub and the Burns House Museum, there are many interesting graves in this place. An excellent leaflet is available for free from the museum, and I would highly recommend that you pick one up. Amongst those whose remains lie here will be found James Humphrey ('the bletherin' bitch'), Poosie Nansie, Nanse Tinnock, Holy Willie, and Gavin Hamilton (lawyer and friend of Burns). On one side of the churchyard you can see Gavin Hamilton's house, and glimpse (from the outside only) the small room in which Robert Burns and Jean Armour were married.
THE BACHELORS' CLUB, TARBOLTON
In this small thatched house (now run by the National Trust for Scotland and closed during winter) Robert Burns 'founded his famous literary and debating society - The Batchelors' Club.' I didn't manage to gain entry when there, but I expect it will be bristling with stuff relating to the bard, like letters and what have you.
In this small thatched house (now run by the National Trust for Scotland and closed during winter) Robert Burns 'founded his famous literary and debating society - The Batchelors' Club.' I didn't manage to gain entry when there, but I expect it will be bristling with stuff relating to the bard, like letters and what have you.
A LITTLE WALK
Okay, are you ready? Got your map (Ordnance Survey 1:50 000 scale, one-and-a-quarter inches to a mile, Landranger Series, Sheet 70, 'Ayr & Kilmarnock')? Then let's be off. Unfold your map, and lay it out on a big table. You see all that blue stuff on the left? That's the sea. You don't want to go there, as it's usually pretty wet. It's that whitish bit with all the coloured lines on it that we want to be making for. In hiking circles, we refer to this as 'land'. On the edge of the blue stuff you may notice a large brown bit. That's the towns of Ayr and Prestwick. About six inches to the right of Prestwick you should be able to locate Tarbolton, and about six inches further on you should see Mauchline. Use a highlighter pen and mark a route between Tarbolton and Mauchline. Probably best if you stick with tarmac, and follow the narrow country road out of Tarbolton that is yellow in colour on your map. See it? (This will take you all the way to the Wizard of Oz.) This road comes to an orange road at one point (the B744 road), whereupon you turn right back onto a yellow road that leads you past Mossgiel Farm and into Mauchline. The walk is initially very pleasant, but as with all roads, no matter how tiny, there is the hazard of an occasional car. As you near Mauchline on the pavement-less byway the number of cars increases to a level that can be a little unpleasant. Be very careful out there. I would recommend that you start your day in Tarbolton, then walk to Mauchline. The surrounding countryside is just beautiful.
An exceedingly pleasant alternative would be to leave the narrow yellow road about half a mile out of Tarbolton, and follow a track heading south towards Failford. There you may find the River Ayr Way (a big walk) and the Failford Inn, where fine food and ale may be had. You could then continue on the River Ayr Way to Haugh, then leave the river and head for Mauchline. The choice is yours.
Okay, are you ready? Got your map (Ordnance Survey 1:50 000 scale, one-and-a-quarter inches to a mile, Landranger Series, Sheet 70, 'Ayr & Kilmarnock')? Then let's be off. Unfold your map, and lay it out on a big table. You see all that blue stuff on the left? That's the sea. You don't want to go there, as it's usually pretty wet. It's that whitish bit with all the coloured lines on it that we want to be making for. In hiking circles, we refer to this as 'land'. On the edge of the blue stuff you may notice a large brown bit. That's the towns of Ayr and Prestwick. About six inches to the right of Prestwick you should be able to locate Tarbolton, and about six inches further on you should see Mauchline. Use a highlighter pen and mark a route between Tarbolton and Mauchline. Probably best if you stick with tarmac, and follow the narrow country road out of Tarbolton that is yellow in colour on your map. See it? (This will take you all the way to the Wizard of Oz.) This road comes to an orange road at one point (the B744 road), whereupon you turn right back onto a yellow road that leads you past Mossgiel Farm and into Mauchline. The walk is initially very pleasant, but as with all roads, no matter how tiny, there is the hazard of an occasional car. As you near Mauchline on the pavement-less byway the number of cars increases to a level that can be a little unpleasant. Be very careful out there. I would recommend that you start your day in Tarbolton, then walk to Mauchline. The surrounding countryside is just beautiful.
An exceedingly pleasant alternative would be to leave the narrow yellow road about half a mile out of Tarbolton, and follow a track heading south towards Failford. There you may find the River Ayr Way (a big walk) and the Failford Inn, where fine food and ale may be had. You could then continue on the River Ayr Way to Haugh, then leave the river and head for Mauchline. The choice is yours.
RATING
FREE
ENTRY
ENTRY
Advertisements
208 x 80 pixels
£75 per annum