Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
on until her own death, some 38 years later. Inside, there's a collection of Burns
memorabilia - manuscripts, letters, his copper kettle, nutmeg grater and the like
- while one of the bedroom windows bears his signature, scratched with his
diamond ring.
St Michael's Church
As a member of the Dumfries Volunteers, Burns was given a military funeral, before
being buried nearby in a simple grave by
St Michael's Church
, a large red-sandstone
churchon St Michael's Street, built in 1745. In 1815 his body was dug up and moved
across the graveyard to a purpose-built
mausoleum
, a bright white Neoclassical
eyesore that houses a statue of him being accosted by the poetic Muse. he graveyard
features several tombstones of the poet's friends, a number of them inscribed with
wonderfully verbose epitaphs.
3
Robert Burns Centre
Mill Rd • April-Sept Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 2-5pm; Oct-March Tues-Sat 10am-1pm & 2-5pm; films Tues-Sat • £2 •
T
01387 264808,
W
rbcft.co.uk
In a converted watermill on the western banks of the Nith, the
Robert Burns Centre
,
or RBC, has a straightforward exhibition on the poet's years in Dumfries although the
most interesting item on display here is the scale model of the town from the 1790s.
here's a good audiovisual presentation on Burns in the small cinema which also
shows predominantly art-house films in the evenings.
Dumfries Museum
The Observatory, Rotchell Rd • April-Sept Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 2-5pm; Oct-March Tues-Sat 10am-1pm & 2-5pm; camera
obscura open weather permitting • Free; camera obscura £2.60 •
T
01387 253374,
W
dumfriesmuseum.com
On the hill west of the Nith stands the
Dumfries Museum
, from which there are great
views over the town. he museum is housed partly in an eighteenth-century windmill,
which was converted into the town's observatory in the 1830s and features the world's
oldest working
camera obscura
on its top floor, well worth a visit on a clear day when
the views are projected inside to maximum effect. On the floors below the focus is on
local history and prehistory with a good collection of tools and weaponry from the
region's earliest peoples as well as some impressive carved masonry from the era of the
first Christians.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
DUMFRIES
By train
Dumfries train
station is a 5min walk east of the
town centre.
Destinations
Carlisle (Mon-Sat every 1-2hr, 5 on Sun;
40min); Glasgow Central (Mon-Sat every 1-2hr, 2 on
Sun; 1hr 45min); Sanquhar (Mon-Sat every 1-2hr, 2 on
Sun; 25min).
By bus
Most buses
stop off at Whitesands beside the
River Nith.
Destinations
Kirkcudbright (Mon-Sat hourly, Sun every
2hr; 1hr 40min); New Abbey (Mon-Sat hourly, 6 on Sun;
15min); Stranraer (Mon-Sat every 2hr, 2 on Sun; 2hr
15min).
INFORMATION
Tourist o
ce
64 Whitesands (April-June & Sept-Oct Mon-
Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm; July & Aug Mon-Sat
9.30am-5.30pm, Sun 11am-4pm; Nov-March Mon-Fri
9.30am-4.30pm, Sat 9.30am-4pm;
T
01387 253862).
ACCOMMODATION
Glenaldor House
5 Victoria Terrace
T
01387
264248,
W
glenaldorhouse.co.uk.
A light and bright
Victorian house near the station with four comfortably
spacious en-suite bedrooms. Wake up to a full Scottish
breakfast, made with local prod
uce;
there's also a wide
choice from pastries to porridge.
£62
