Scotland: In the Footsteps of Robert Burns 685

Scotland: In the Footsteps of Robert Burns 685

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4 Days From

$1185

Scotland: In the Footsteps of Robert Burns 685

4 Days Starting in Ayrshire, UK and ending in Glasgow, UK

Visiting: Ayrshire, Kirkoswald, Troon, Souter Johnnies Cottage, Alloway Auld Kirk, Rozelle House Museum and Galleries, Ayr, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Robert Burns Ellisland Farm, Dumfries, The Mitchell Library, Mauchline, Glasgow

Tour operator:

Brightwater Holidays

Tour code:

BFRB

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

6 - 25

Physical rating:

Gentle

Age range:

1-99

Special diets catered:

Meat, Vegans, Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

UK tours by Coach

From: $1185

NB: Prices correct on 24-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Burns Night comes but once a year, and when it does we at Brightwater need no excuse to get involved. Neeps, tatties, whisky, haggis, and poetry by the plateful: what better way to celebrate?

This fantastic four-day tour charts the life and times of the brilliant Robert Burns, peerless poet of the lowlands, through the beautiful pastoral settings that inspired him. Basing ourselves in the west of Scotland, we follow in Burns’ fascinating footsteps, from his humble Ayrshire beginnings in 1759, to his untimely death in Dumfries at the age of just 37.

A fervent collector of folk songs and tales, no-one has done more to preserve Scotland’s heritage — nor, dare we say it, promote the country’s haggises! Join us to discover the man behind the legacy, see the sites that spurred on his works, read the original lines of his cherished manuscripts, and pay homage at his mausoleum.

Highlights

  • Traditional Burns Supper with all the trimmings

  • Exclusive private viewing of Burns material in the Mitchell Library

  • The Burns Birthplace Museum

  • Visit Ellisland Farm and Soutar Johnnie’s Cottage

  • Paying your own tribute at the Burns Mausoleum

  • No Single Room Supplement

Places You'll See

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1

Location: Ayrshire, Kirkoswald, Troon, Souter Johnnies Cottage

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Park Hotel Kilmarnock

Meals Included: Dinner

Depart from your chosen pick-up points and journey to Ayrshire, where we stop for lunch (not included) and a visit to Souter Jonnie’s Cottage in Kirkoswald. This is the home of the shoe maker immortalised by Robert Burns in Tam o’Shanter. Following the tour of the outside of the cottage we venture to the village cemetery to view the graves of the main characters that inspired Robert Burns to write Tam o’Shanter.
We then continue our journey to our hotel in Kilmarnock, with time on arrival to refresh and relax before dinner is served in the evening.

Day 2

Location: Alloway Auld Kirk, Rozelle House Museum and Galleries, Ayr, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Park Hotel Kilmarnock

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning is spent at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and then following in his footsteps through the village where he spent the early years of his life. Find out what made the great poet and song writer tick, and visit Alloway Auld Kirk, where it’s so easy to see Tam running from the witches and warlocks capering beside it. The place that captured Burns’ imagination is also the resting place of members of the Burns family and next to the church ruins you can find the ornately carved head stones of his father William Burnes and sister Isabella Burns Begg.
After lunch, we continue to Rozelle House which displays Alexander Goudie’s series of 54 paintings setting out the poem ‘Tam O’Shanter’.

Day 3

Location: Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Robert Burns Ellisland Farm, Ayr, Dumfries

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Park Hotel Kilmarnock

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today we explore the lowlands of Scotland and see the landscapes which are captured in Burns’ lyrical verses; the forests and hills he loved so much and the place he called home at Ellisland Farm. We visit the farm, set on the tranquil river’s edge.
Next, we visit the house where Burns spent the latter years of his life, now the Robert Burns’ House Museum. The house remains largely untouched, adorned with the poet’s possessions.
Our final visit today is to Burns’ final resting place and memorial, the Robert Burns Mausoleum, which stands at the eastern end of the churchyard of St Michael’s Church, Dumfries. Burns was initially buried in the north east corner of the churchyard, but before long his growing army of devoted fans began to feel that his existing grave was insufficient recognition for his genius. A circular was published in 1813 calling for the public to subscribe to the cost of a mausoleum and a fundraising campaign was launched, with Sir Walter Scott one of its leading lights. Money flowed in from all over the world but it was only in September 1817 that the mausoleum was complete and the monument installed within it.
A Burns Supper is served in the hotel this evening, featuring haggis, neeps and tatties, along with the traditional Address to the Haggis.

Day 4

Location: The Mitchell Library, Mauchline, Glasgow

After a hearty Scottish breakfast we head for Mauchline and the Burns House Museum, located in the former lodging of the poet and his wife. The museum showcases original manuscripts and inspirational objects he had surrounding him. It is claimed that it was the period living on this farm which gave rise to his most creative and productive works.
We continue to Glasgow and the Mitchell Library, which holds a memorial to Burns and one of the largest collections of his works in the world. Here we have arranged an exclusive private viewing of some of the most important books and material with the Curator.
We return to our original departure points.

What's Included

  • Accommodation

  • Services of a professional tour manager

  • Comfortable coach travel throughout

  • Meals - as per the itinerary

  • All visits as outlined in the itinerary

What's Not Included

Tipping and Gratuities

Check out our Q&As

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    No

  • Are flights included in this tour?

    No

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    Yes

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Will I receive more details of the holiday before I travel?

    You will receive detailed joining instructions around 10 days prior to you departure, but you are of course welcome to contact us at any time should you have any queries.

  • What facilities do your coaches have?

    Generally, our coaches have reclining seats, air-conditioning and toilets, however this cannot always be guaranteed as sometimes we have to use smaller vehicles. Toilets are recommended for emergency use only and regular comfort stops will be made throughout your holiday while travelling around.

  • Do I have to go on the included excursions?

    Absolutely not. You are more than welcome to spend the day at your hotel or exploring independently should you wish. All we ask is that you inform your Tour Manager, so they are not left waiting for you to join the group.

  • Is there time to relax?

    Although our itineraries may seem jam-packed, boasting access to some of the most exclusive sites across the UK and beyond, a Brightwater Holiday is just that: a holiday. Each trip will counter in more than enough free-time for you to explore places at your own leisure. And with most nights and the majority of meals being included in our tour prices, you can relax in hand-picked accommodation.

  • Do I need to be an expert?

    Absolutely not! Although some of our tours are specifically focused on one thing, all you need to enjoy a Brightwater holiday is interest and bags of enthusiasm! Even on our most specialist tours, we take travellers from all skill levels, from experts to beginners.

  • How fit or active do I need to be for one of your holidays?

    You need to be able to get on and off the coach unassisted, and most – but not all – coaches have a kneel facility that lowers the front step for ease of boarding

  • Do you have self-drive holidays?

    Yes, we do – tailored to your exact requirements!

  • What’s the luggage allowance on your coaches?

    There’s no fixed limit, but we generally say one large suitcase to go in the luggage compartment and a smaller bag that you can take onto the coach with you. For flight-inclusive holidays, we include a luggage allowance of at least 20kg.

  • Where are your departure points?

    UK garden holidays generally depart from London, with additional pick-ups depending on the route of the coach, while holidays to Scotland depart from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth, with Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen sometimes included. All Eurostar holidays depart from London St. Pancras and flight-inclusive holidays depart from one or more of the main London airports, with regional flights .

  • What about the company that will be kept?

    For single travellers, those with a companion or even those travelling in a larger group, you'll find that the signature of any Brightwater Holiday is the company. You won't ever be travelling with a group of strangers, instead, you'll find yourself surrounded by like-minded people with a strong shared interest who will soon become your firm friends.

  • What is a Brightwater Holiday?

    Bursting with enthralling, educational and enlightening itineraries, a Brightwater Holiday, by its very nature, is packed with bucket-list-worthy destinations, behind the scenes passes and expert-led experiences. From creating bespoke quality garden and special interest tours for groups and individuals alike, we have made it our business to make our guests' travel dreams come true.

  • Why is there a single supplement?

    Unfortunately, single room supplements are charges that are often imposed on us as a company when we book rooms for group holidays. However, most hotels do charge less for single occupancy, and we always pass this saving on to our solo travellers in the form of a modest single supplement.

  • How much are your optional excursions?

    Prices start from as little as £20, but please contact our friendly team for questions about specific itineraries or excursions.

  • Can I pre-book my coach seats?

    Yes, you can. In the case of front seats, guests with limited mobility are given priority. Please get in touch with our friendly team to discuss any requirements you may have.

  • How to get there? Easy!

    With a Brightwater Holiday, the journey is just as important as the destination and we make getting you to your tour start point easy. From organising group flights and individual travel plans, to offering accessible local departure and pick-up points, we go out of our way to ensure that your journey is as convenient and hassle-free as it can be.

  • Do I need to have travel insurance?

    Travel insurance is required for all overseas holidays and is also strongly recommended for UK holidays – primarily to protect yourself against cancellation charges should you be unable to travel.

Reviews of this operator

Trusted Customer  

Brightwater Holidays offers great value

28-Nov-2019

I would highly recommend Brightwater Holidays. It offers excellent service and value for money. This was my first tour as I normally arrange holidays myself, but this tour - which was to the gardens of Kent and Sussex - was a very pleasant change of pace.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Brightwater Holidays Customer  

My experience with Brightwater Holidays

08-Aug-2019

The tour was well managed, the sites visited were all interesting and linked to the theme of the Picts and their place in history, the hotel was comfortable and the coach journeys were well paced. I have been with Brightwater before and will certainly travel with them again

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Alan Hawkes (Google Reviewer)  

We were on the Tour...

28-Aug-2022

We were on the Tour of the Outer Hebrides. We had a great experience, in no small part due to the excellence of the tour manager and driver.

Brightwater Holidays Custome  

Wonderful experience with brilliant information

31-Jul-2019

The most important factor was an amazing guide in Alastair Walker whose knowledge and care for clients was fantastic. The whole trips are superbly organised

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Eric Webb (Google Reviewer)  

Recent (September 2023) Scottish holiday...

07-Oct-2023

Recent (September 2023) Scottish holiday not so good. Various 'issues' to do with scheduling and organisation. I'm happy to report however that - after an interval - a letter expressing disappointment brought a full response - including a generous refund. So - with fingers slightly crossed - we'll be booking with Brightwater again in due course.

John G R (Google Reviewer)  

Now, this is a wee...

08-Nov-2024

Now, this is a wee family run holiday that is run from a bedroom. Outrageous prices for a holiday in scotland.👍

Kevin Barrett (Google Reviewer)  

The recent tour in Northumberland...

30-Sep-2023

The recent tour in Northumberland turned out to be a shambles. Our South London driver took us to Newcastle, but no guide to meet us. Next day still no guide and the bus driver attempted to salvage the tour the best he could despite having no knowledge of the attractions. Fortunately one of the passengers Googled the tides for Holy Island. No holiday guide ever showed up. Coach and hotel were fine. Do these people only offer self guided tours? Take Shearings next time.

ALEXANDRA MCQUEEN (Google Reviewer)  

Been trying to get a...

17-Oct-2023

Been trying to get a reply from them for over a week. Booked Xmas tour, confirmation said pick up subject to numbers, they never said anything when booking and theyve been paid in full. Would not recommend!

Dp Green (Google Reviewer)  

I had heard this company...

20-Feb-2024

I had heard this company was a nightmare to deal with, but thought I'd give it a go. Signed up for a tour, then emailed them about how to pay off the balance. No response to 3 emails. I've never encountered a tour company that ignored questions on how to pay off a balance. Looked into other reviews and found many complaints about cancelled tours and refusals to refund deposits.

Kieran Thompson (Google Reviewer)  

Two of your tour busses...

26-Jul-2021

Two of your tour busses used the A814 from Garelochhead to Arrochar on 24th July 2021. This route is not suitable for large vehicles and your drivers should not have taken the huge coaches that way. There are clear signs at both ends of the road indicating it is not suitable for HGV's. Our car had to go off into the soft verge to allow your coaches to pass. Please amend your routes to avoid this road in future.

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Thursday - Sunday

Jan 23, 2025 - Jan 26, 2025
$1185
Prices last published on 23-Nov-2024

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Brightwater Holidays allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform brightwater holidays, 25 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Brightwater Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 15% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of brightwater holidays charges.

    At 40 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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