2-night Culture Breaks in Scotland
The Robert Burns Holiday

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Meet Robert Burns
EXCLUSIVE ‘MEET ROBERT BURNS’ Culture Break at Glenapp Castle in Scotland

Scotland’s most famous son, Robert "Rabbie" Burns (1759 – 1796), was a ‘ploughman poet’ known simply as The Bard, and his work is celebrated worldwide as the national poet of Scotland. 

Robert Burns was born in Alloway, not far from Glenapp Castle, and is the best known poet to have written in the Scots language.

To celebrate Glenapp Castle's close link with some of Scotland's richest literary history, guests can now enjoy a specially-arranged 2-night culture break.

Involving an itinerary of local tours, talks and poetry readings, this culture break is designed to introduce his work to interested beginners and celebrate his work with familiar friends. Good food, good company, and a whole world of Scots literature awaits.

2 Night Stay and ‘Meet Robert Burns’ for 2 Guests:
- from £695.00 per person for 2 nights, June to Sept 2012
- from £650.00 per person for 2 nights, Oct to Dec 2012

2 Night Stay and ‘Meet Robert Burns’ for 4 Guests:
- from £600.00 per person for 2 nights, June to Sept 2012
- from £550.00 per person for 2 nights, Oct to Dec 2012

Check availability:
>> Telephone 01465 831212
>> Email enquiries@glenappcastle.com

The above break rates are based on 2 guests sharing a ground floor luxury double or twin room. Please ask about our rates to upgrade to a Master Room or Suite. The culture break is subject to availability and must be booked in advance.

Robert Burns Culture Break Itinerary:

DAY 1 of your 'Meet Robert Burns' Break

• 1pm onwards - Arrival at the castle.
  Afternoon Tea with shortbread on arrival. A Welcome Gift - Robert Burns In Your Pocket. A pocket book of his life and poems.
• 7.00pm - Four course Gourmet Dinner with complimentary dram of The Bladnoch, Lowland Malt Whisky. Luxury Accommodation in a Ground Floor Luxury Double room.

DAY 2 of your 'Meet Robert Burns' Break

• 7.45am to 10am - Full Scottish Breakfast
• 10.30am - Pre-tour talk and poetry reading in the castle library by Award Winning Donald Kay in full Robert Burns’ style 18th Century costume.
• 11am - Depart for a tour of Burns country with Donald Kay *
  The tour will include personal guided visits to some of the many famous Robert Burns sites in Ayrshire (see a list below) and a stop for a light lunch along the way. Admission to the sites and lunch are included in the package.
• 5pm approximately - Return to the castle
• 7pm - Five Course ‘Burns Supper’ with complimentary ‘Scottish’ liqueur coffee to finish. Luxury accommodation in a ground floor luxury double room.

DAY 3 of your 'Meet Robert Burns' Break

• 7.45am to 10am - Full Scottish Breakfast
• 11am - Check out and depart the castle

* Please note that we recommend you wear comfortable shoes, take an umbrella (which can be borrowed from the castle) and a waterproof coat in case of wet weather.

These 'Meet Robert Burns’ Package rates cannot be booked online and should be booked directly with Glenapp Castle.
Check availability:
>> Telephone 01465 831212
>> Email enquiries@glenappcastle.com

More History of Robert Burns, the National Poet of Scotland

Robert Burns was born in Alloway, not far from Glenapp Castle, and is the best known poet to have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and or "light" Scots dialect, easily accessible to a global audience. As well as creating many original compositions, Burns also collected ancient folk songs from across Scotland, often revising or adapting them. His poem (and song) ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is sung all over the world at New Year, or Hogmanay as we call it.  ‘Scots Wha Hae’ served for a long time as an unofficial national anthem for Scotland. Other poems and songs of Burns that remain well-known across the world today include ‘A Red, Red Rose’, ‘A Man's A Man for A' That’, ‘ To a Mouse’,  ‘Tam O' Shanter’, and ‘Ae Fond Kiss’.  

Every year, on 25th January, thousands of Burns fans all over the world meet at ‘Burns Suppers’ to celebrate the anniversary of his birth, recite his poems, sing his songs, and dine on traditional ‘Haggis, Neeps and Tatties’, often accompanied by a ‘wee dram’ of whisky

Robert Burns Tours of Ayrshire, Scotland - Further Places of Interest near Glenapp Castle

If guests would like to plan a longer cultural visit for touring more of Scotland's places of interest on the subject of Robert Burns or to explore the literary history of the area in more depth, please get in touch with us to discuss some ideas.

In the meantime, please see the following recommendations for additional places of interest near Glenapp Castle.

Burns Cottage

The Birthplace of Robert Burns, Burns Cottage is now a Museum dedicated to the life and works of the ‘Bard’. The Museum holds some 5,000 artefacts relating to the legacy of Burns.

Auld Kirk Alloway

Thought to date back to the early thirteenth century and used as a place of worship until the middle of the eighteenth century, the Auld Kirk of Alloway is the centrepiece of Burns’ epic poem ‘Tam O’Shanter’.

Brig O’ Doon, Alloway

Said to have been built by Bishop Kennedy, the Chancellor of Scotland in the 15th Century.

Robert Burns Birth Place Museum

Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Poet, was born in Alloway, four miles South of Ayr in the year 1759. This new Museum houses the most important Burns collection in the world.

Burns Monument and Memorial Gardens

Designed by Thomas Hamilton and completed in 1823, the gardens also contain statues of Tam O’Shanter and Souter Johnnie.

Bachelors’ Club, Tarbolton

Robert Burns and some friends formed a debating society which they names The Bachelors’ Club on 11th November 1780. Their aims were to forget their cares and labour in mirth and diversion’ to promote friendship and to improve their minds with meaningful debate.

Burns National Memorial, Mauchline

Mauchline is oozing with Robert Burns history and when you first roll into the village from the top of the hill, the National Burns Memorial is there to welcome you. Robert Burns and Jean Armour met in the village of Mauchline in 1785. Following a rollercoaster courtship they married twice within 3 years. Two rooms upstairs in the present day museum were occupied by the couple during 1788. This was their first married home.

Souter Johnnie’s Cottage, Kirkoswald

Souter Johnnie had the cottage built in 1785 and lived there until his death in 1806 with his descendants owning the cottage until 1920. It is now a Burns Museum.

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* Rates for all special offers and packages on this web site are subject to change at any time. Special offers and packages are strictly subject to availability, and subject to our normal booking terms and conditions (click to view booking terms and conditions). They can only be booked directly by telephone or email with Glenapp Castle. Special rates cannot be applied to existing reservations.