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Traveling with Atlas Obscura amid COVID-19 How We’re Adapting Our Trips Destination Requirements (via Embassy Pages)Join us as we traverse the Scottish lowlands, tracing the footsteps of one of Scotland’s most beloved bards, Robert Burns. Paying homage to the prolific poet, we’ll abandon the well-trodden trails most tourists take in favor of a meandering, scenic, and staggeringly romantic route. Beginning in the heart of Edinburgh and winding our way south, we’ll partake in a poetry workshop, visit Burns’s childhood home in the coastal village of Ayr, and wander the whimsical Moat Brae—the house believed to have inspired Peter Pan. We’ll chat with Burnsian experts, mingle with poets, and even enjoy a few cozy nights at our bagpiping guide’s parents’ home. Along the way, we’ll explore centuries-old castles, hunker down in cozy pubs, and, if the spirits move us, recite our own address to a haggis.
Arrive and take some time to settle in at our boutique hotel located in the heart of Edinburgh. In the early evening, we’ll meet in the lobby and head to the Wee Pub—the aptly named tiniest pub in Scotland. Over pints and pub food, we’ll get to know our guide and fellow travelers in close and cozy quarters, waxing poetic about the adventures that await us.
Apart Hotel Adagio, Edinburgh
Welcome Dinner
We’ll begin the day with a walking tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town, wandering the centuries-old cobblestone streets lined with castle-like stone buildings. We’ll take in the city’s stunning architecture, fascinating history, and the lasting legacy that Burns left behind. After breaking for lunch at the Grainstore—a tiny restaurant tucked away in the middle of Old Town—we’ll partake in a Robert Burns poetry workshop led by a literature student at the University of Edinburgh at an atmospheric university venue. Tonight is yours to explore Edinburgh at your own pace. Consider walking the sobering, subterranean streets of Mary King's Close; dining among tiled portraits of Scottish innovators at Cafe Royal; or paying tribute to Scottish soldiers' canine companions at the Edinburgh Castle Dog Cemetery.
Apart Hotel Adagio, Edinburgh
Breakfast, Lunch
Begin the day with a drive to Burns’s birthplace, Alloway—a picturesque village that lies just outside of Ayr. We’ll explore the three-room cottage where the young Burns lived until the age of seven and pore over the thousands of artifacts and handwritten manuscripts stocked in the home-museum. After some free time and lunch on your own, join the group for a shorter drive, this time to Ayr. We’ll check in at our charming hotel and, if we’re lucky, glimpse a stunning Scottish sunset from the gardens and grounds. Tonight, we’ll hunker down over a hearty dinner at a nearby pub and raise a glass to the town that inspired Tam o’ Shanter.
Savoy Park Hotel, Ayr
Breakfast, Dinner
Today it’s off to Kirkcudbright, formerly known as the Kingdom of Galloway. Home to a vibrant collective of contemporary bards, makers, and creators, Kirkcudbright has been dubbed The Artists’ Town. Delve into the harbor city’s rich history on a walking tour with the group before breaking for lunch on your own. You’ll have the rest of the afternoon to explore the MacLellan Castle, Tolbooth Art Centre, and waterfront at your own pace. Later in the afternoon, we’ll take a one-hour drive to Auchencairn, stopping first to admire the crumbling remains of Dundrennan Abbey, the monastery that housed Mary, Queen of Scots the night before she fled to England. Our final destination for the evening is the Collin House—our guide Ross’s parents’ home and according to neighborhood lore, once a dining spot for Burns himself. After we arrive, Liz and Brendan will share a home-cooked meal with us. Around the family table, you can ask them about the history of their home, the window pane into which Burns allegedly scratched his name, and perhaps what Ross was like as a wee piper.
Collin House (Homestay), Auchencairn
Breakfast, Dinner
After a leisurely home-cooked breakfast with Liz and Brendan, we’ll hit the road and drive back to Kirkcudbright. Be sure to bring your literary chops—we’re heading to an old schoolhouse for an afternoon literary workshop where we’ll discuss one of Burns's poems and learn how to speak a wee bit of Scots. You’ll have the rest of the afternoon to explore the town’s art, culture, and culinary delights on your own. Before heading back to Auchencairn, we'll enjoy a classic Scottish-and-British bounty of fish and chips in the city. Tonight we'll return to Collin House, wander the gardens and grounds, and get a good night's sleep.
Collin House (Homestay), Auchencairn
Breakfast, Dinner
After a slow breakfast at the house, we’ll say our goodbyes to Liz and Brendan and drive to Dumfries, where Burns spent the latter years of his life as an excise officer. We’ll visit the Robert Burns Center, where we’ll learn more about the bard, and wander the whimsical Moat Brae, the home that inspired Peter Pan. After lunch on your own, we’ll regroup and check in at our boutique hotel. Take the rest of the afternoon to explore the city sometimes known as the “Queen of the South” at your own pace, perhaps peeking through the camera obscura atop a centuries-old windmill tower, admiring ancient stone carvings at the Dumfries Museum, or wandering the halls of the sandstone home where Burns spent the last years of his life. We’ll regroup for dinner at The Globe Inn, an intimate restaurant with a bespoke menu, claiming to be Robert Burns’s favorite howff, or haunt. As we dine, a few members of the Old Club will join us to speak about Burns and how he’s remembered here in Dumfries. We'll wrap up the night with a dram and a few steps to one of Dumfries & Galloway's classic ceilidh bands.
Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries
Breakfast, Dinner
This morning we’re off to Annan. Upon arrival, we’ll head to the Annandale Distillery for an intimate tour of the grounds and facilities. We’ll have the chance to see how whisky is malted, distilled, and bottled—and, of course, we'll get to taste the finished product. After lunch on your own and a free afternoon, we’ll return to Edinburgh and check in once again at Apart Hotel Adagio. We’ll head to Ross’s flat for a final farewell feast. Over a hearty meal, lyrical conversation, and, if we’re lucky, a tune or two on the pipes courtesy of Ross, we’ll evoke the spirit of Burns one final time with a toast to a mouse, louse, or even haggis.
Apart Hotel Adagio, Edinburgh
Breakfast, Dinner
For the majority of the trip, we’ll be staying at comfortable, centrally located, 3 and 4-star hotels. We’ll spend two nights at Collin House, the home of our guide Ross’s generous parents, Liz and Brendan Jennings. During our time as guests at the Jennings’ home, please be prepared to share a bathroom with one or two other travelers.
You’re in good company. Solo travelers typically make up about half of our small groups. With curiosity at the core of our experiences, there’s a natural camaraderie that develops over the course of a trip. We have two options for you:
(1) Shared Room (subject to the latest Covid-19 guidelines): You'll be matched with another solo traveler of the same gender.
(2) Private Room: Have your own room, subject to availability, for a supplemental cost of $540. After booking your trip, please request a private room when you fill out your traveler information form and we’ll add the option to your booking and final balance.
Our trip begins with a welcome drink in Edinburgh at 5:30 p.m. on Day 1. We recommend you arrive in Edinburgh by 3 p.m. that day so you can settle into your hotel room and rest before meeting up with the group. Our trip concludes in the morning on Day 8. If leaving Edinburgh directly after our trip, we recommend departing any time that day.
Travelers should feel comfortable walking between two and four miles over the course of each day, going up and down stairs, and remaining on their feet for long periods of time. We’ll be spending time in rural areas and sometimes walking on uneven terrain.