Page 96 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

94  SC O TLAND REGION B Y REGION SOUTHERN SC O TLAND  95

site of a 15th-century Douglas
stronghold. The castle’s multi-
turreted, formidable exterior
conceals a priceless collection
of art trea sures as well as such
Jacobite relics as Bonnie Prince
Charlie’s camp kettle, sash and
money box. Hanging within oak-
panelled rooms are paint ings by
Thomas Gainsborough, Sir
Joshua Reynolds, Alan Ramsay
and Rembrandt, whose Old Lady The exterior of Burns Cottage, birthplace of Robert Burns
Reading takes pride of place. The
emblem of a crowned, winged y Burns Heritage Museum is set in beautiful
heart recalls the famous Douglas Trail countryside. It incorporates Burns
ancestor “The Good Sir James”. Cottage, the poet’s birthplace,
Legend has it he bore Robert South Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway. which houses memorabilia and
the Bruce’s heart on crusade n Dumfries (01387) 253862, Ayr a col lection of manuscripts. The
against the Moors in Spain. (01292) 290300. ∑ visitdumfriesand ruins of Alloway Kirk and the
The Classical 18th-century tenements of New Lanark on the banks of the Clyde galloway.co.uk 13th-century Brig o’ Doon have
the best period atmosphere.
w New Lanark the working of its water-driven symmetrical villa was built for Robert Burns (1759–96) left
mills, the village had become the fifth Earl of Dum fries, William behind a remarkable body of E Robert Burns Centre
Clyde Valley. * 185. 3 @ Lanark. Mill Rd, Dumfries. Tel (01387) 253374.
n Horsemarket, Ladyacre Rd, Lanark the largest pro ducer of cotton Crichton Dalrymple. Designed work ranging from satirical Open Apr–Sep: 10am–5pm Mon–Sat,
(01555) 668249. ∑ newlanark.org in Britain by 1800. Dale and his to lure a pros pective wife, it was poetry to tender love songs. 2–5pm Sun; Oct–Mar: 10am–1pm &
successor, and son-in-law, Robert decorated in fashion able Rococo His status as national bard is
Situated by the beautiful falls Owen, were philanthropists style between 1756 and 1760. unchallenged and an official 2–5pm Tue–Sat. &
of the River Clyde, with three whose reforms demonstrated Amongst the treasures is a price- Burns Heritage Trail leads visitors E Burns House
separate waterfalls, the village that commercial success need less collection of Chippendale around sights in south west Burns St, Dumfries. Tel (01387)
of New Lanark was founded in not undermine the wellbeing furniture, some of it purpose- Scotland where he lived. 255297. Open Apr–Sep: 10am–5pm
1785 by the indus trial entre- of the workforce. The manu- built and incorporating Scottish In Dumfries, the Robert Mon–Sat, 2–5pm Sun; Oct–Mar:
preneur David Dale. Ideally facturing of cotton continued saltires. The house and contents Burns Centre focuses on his 10am–1pm & 2–5pm Tue–Sat.
located alongside the river for here until the late 1960s. were saved in 2007 by a trust years in the town, while Burns E Ellisland Farm
The New Lanark Visitor established by Prince Charles. House, where he lived from Holywood Rd, Auldgirth. Tel (01387)
Centre has exhibits illustrating 1793 to 1796, contains 740426. Open Apr–Sep: 10am–1pm &
the World Heritage Site’s signifi- r Drumlanrig memorabilia. His Greek-style 2–5pm Mon–Sat, 2–5pm Sun; Oct–
cance as a win dow on to work- mausoleum can be found in Mar: 2–5pm Tue–Sat. & 7 8
ing life in the early 19th century. Castle The sturdy island fortress of Threave Castle St Michael’s Churchyard. ∑ ellislandfarm.co.uk
Head to the centre to purchase Thornhill, Dumfries & Galloway. on the Dee At Ellisland Farm there are E Burns House and Museum
a passport giving access to the Tel (01848) 331555. 3 @ Dumfries, further displays, with some Castle St, Mauchline. Tel (01290)
town’s historical buildings. then bus. Open Apr–Sep:10am–5pm t Threave Castle of Burns’s family possessions. 550045. Open 10:30am–6pm Tue &
daily (castle from 11am). & 7 - Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway. Mauchline, some 18 km Wed, 1:30–8pm Thu, 10:30am–4pm Fri
Environs = ∑ drumlanrigcastle.co.uk Tel (07711) 223101. 3 Dumfries. (11 miles) east of Ayr, has the & Sat. & 7 limited.
24 km (15 miles) north, the town Open Apr–Sep: 10am– 4:30pm daily; Burns House and Museum in E Robert Burns Birthplace
of Blantyre has a memorial to the Rising squarely from a grassy Oct: 10am–3:30pm daily. & = another former residence. Museum
Clyde Valley’s most famous son, platform, the massive fortress- ∑ historicenvironment.scot Alloway, just south of Ayr, is Alloway. Tel (01292) 443700. Open
the explorer David Livingstone. palace of Drumlanrig Castle the real centre of the Burns Trail. 10am–5:30pm (cottage 11am–5pm.
David Livingstone was built from pink sandstone A menacing giant of a tower, The Robert Burns Birthplace & 7 « ∑ burnsmuseum.org.uk
E New Lanark Visitor Centre between 1679 and 1691 on the this 14th-century Black Douglas
Scotland’s great missionary Tel (01555) 661345. Open daily. &
doctor and explorer was born 7 8 by appointment. strong hold on an island in the Scottish Textiles
in Blantyre where he began Dee commands the most com-
working life as a mill boy at plete medieval riverside harbour Weaving in the Scottish Borders
the age of ten. Livingstone e Dumfries House in Scotland. Douglas’s struggles goes back to the Middle Ages,
(1813–73) made three epic against the early Stuart kings when monks from Flanders
journeys across Africa, from Cumnock, Ayrshire. Tel (01290) 425959. resulted in his surrender here established a thriving woollen
1840, promoting “commerce Open dawn to dusk daily. 8 Apr– after a two-month siege in 1455 trade with the Continent. Cotton
and Christianity”. He became Oct: daily; Nov–Mar: Sat & Sun. & – but only after James II had be came an important source of
the first European to see 7 partial. - = ∑ dumfries- brought the cannon Mons Meg wealth in the Clyde Valley during
Victoria Falls, and died in house.org.uk to batter the castle. Threave was the 19th century, when handloom
1873 while searching for the dismantled after Protestant weaving was overtaken by power-
source of the Nile. His body is This wonderful Palladian villa Covenant ers defeat ed its driven mills. The popular Paisley
buried in West minster Abbey is off the beaten track, but Catholic defenders in 1640. Only patterns were based on original
in London. worth a detour. Sitting in The Baroque front steps and doorway of the shell of the kitchen, great Indian designs. A colourful pattern from Paisley
sweep ing park land, the grand Drumlanrig Castle hall and domestic levels remain.
For hotels and restaurants see pp173–5 and pp183–4

094-095_EW_Scotland.indd 94 10/23/17 11:55 AM 094-095_EW_Scotland.indd 95 10/23/17 11:55 AM