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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll say our goodbyes (or, alternatively, recite “The Farewell”) and head to the airport and back to our respective homes. If you’d like to spend a few extra nights in the area, we’d be happy to recommend places to stay and things to do on your own.