‘Burns Country’ crown chased by Dumfries and Galloway area
Dumfries and Galloway is declaring itself at the “heart of Burns country” as it launches a major drive to promote its historical links to the poet.
Research has found the region pulls in just £21m in Burns-related tourism – a fraction of that generated in neighbouring Ayrshire (£121m).
This is despite Burns’ deep connections to the area, where he farmed and took up work as an exciseman after relocating there with his family in 1788.
The poet also entered a ‘mature creative period’ in Dumfries and Galloway, where he wrote 130 poems including the worldfamous Tam O’shanter and Auld Lang Syne.
The drive to boost post-pandemic visitor numbers using the area’s links to the poet comes after tourism leaders commissioned a study called Burns in Nithsdale.
The report said the strength of the historical links with Burns meant Dumfries and the surrounding area of Nithsdale could “rightly claim to be at the heart of Burns Country”.
Professor Gerard Carruthers, general editor of the New Oxford Edition of the Works of Robert Burns and the head of Scottish Literature at Glasgow University, said: “Post-covid, people might well have a fresh appreciation of what is on their door-step or nearby, Burns' Dumfriesshire is one of the historic cultural jewels of the South-west of Scotland.
“This is the area that witnessed Burns most mature period of creativity for 1788 onwards.
"Here Burns was a farmer, exciseman and militiaman.
He also found time to involve himself in the local and international politics following the French Revolution, be a patron of the theatre and become one of the great songwriters of European Romanticism.
“The landscape and culture around Ellisland, Dumfries and Nithsdale played a large part in inspiring Burns' involvement and artistry here.”
Dr Carruthers is also secretary of the Robert Burns Ellisland Trust, which runs Ellisland Farm and Museum.
The house at Ellisland was built by Burns for his family in 1788.
He later moved into Dumfries, where he found his “favourite howff” at The Globe. He died in Dumfries, where his mausoleum stands.