Natural Celebrations for Robert Burns
Press Release
Natural Celebrations for Robert Burns
25 January marks the birthday of Scotland’s National Bard, Robert Burns, and in the Year of Natural Scotland 2013 there will be celebrations countrywide, forming the culmination of Scotland’s Winter Festivals.
Many of Burns’ songs and poetry were inspired by the natural beauty of Scotland, particularly the breathtaking scenery of Ayrshire, his birthplace, and the romantic setting of Dumfries & Galloway where he lived in later life. His love of nature likely stems from his working life on the family farm in Alloway, Ayr, where we wrote poems such as ‘To a Mouse’, ‘The Primrose’ and ‘A Winter Night’.
Burns Night is a great time of year for food and culture, with Scotland’s national poet toasted and celebrated all over the world. Traditional Burns suppers with haggis, neeps, tatties and plenty of whisky and music are also on offer across Scotland, with music and storytelling promising merry-making for all ages.
Robert Burns celebrations provide the
perfect excuse for a trip to Scotland this January.
Highlights throughout the country include:
18- 26
January
Scottish Storytelling Centre- Burnsfest
2013
Edinburgh
In association with Scotland's
Winter Festivals, Scotland’s national storytelling centre
has a packed programme of Robert Burns related events,
including storytelling, music, songs and of course haggis.
Events include traditional Burns Suppers, café Ceilidhs,
and music nights.
Prices: range from free of charge to
£20
25 January
The Famous Grouse Experience - Burns
Distillery Tours
Perthshire
The special
Burns tour of one of Scotland’s most popular distilleries
and five-star visitor centre will include a tour of the
distillery, a dram, a serving of haggis, neeps and tatties
and a Burns recital.
Price: £15
25 January
2013
The Bonham Hotel- Sin in the City Burns
Dinner
Edinburgh
In collaboration with Mercat
Tours, the prestigious Bonham Hotel’s ‘Sin in the
City’ is an alternative Burns Dinner combining a fine
supper and dram of whisky with tales of love, lust and
passions which will surprise, shock and entertain.
Price: Tickets £49 per person including 4 course haggis
dinner and Mercat Tours story telling performance
25- 27
January 2013
Dumfries - Big Burns
Supper
Dumfries and Galloway
Big Burns Supper
is Dumfries' newest festival of contemporary arts providing
an annual platform for quality production and artistic
ambition. The programme consists of poetry performances, 10
minute Burns Suppers, and a Spiegeltent providing a creative
hub for the festival with live performances from acts such
as Deacon Blue and Eddi Reader across venues throughout
Dumfries.
Prices vary
26- 27 January 2013
National Museums Scotland - Burns
Unbound
Edinburgh and South
Lanarkshire
Release your inner bard at the National
Museum of Scotland and the National Museum of Rural Life
over the weekend of 26 and 27 January. Join celebrity hosts
to celebrate the life and work of Scotland’s National Bard
by attempting to beat the world record for a mass recital of
Burns.
Explore the museum collections and look out for
activities, performances and workshops for all the family
taking place around the museum galleries at both sites.
Standard admission applies at National Museum of Rural
life. £6.50 per adult, £3 per child, £17 per family
ticket (2 adults, 2 children). Free entry at the National
Museum of Scotland.
27 January 2013
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum - Alloway
1759
Ayrshire
Alloway 1759 takes place in
and around Burns Cottage and the Robert Burns Birthplace
Museum where the streets will be lined with costumed
characters and performers to create a unique atmosphere.
Enjoy a wide variety of events including horse and cart
trips, haggis hurling, The Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra, Burns
Childrens' Party, Hoots Owls, and Willie Stewart singing
songs of Burns.
Prices: £8 per adult, £6 per child,
£20 per family (2 adults, 2 children)
Burns' Cottage. Credit: Alister G. Firth
Notes:
• For more information on the Year of Natural Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com/natural
• The aim of the Year of Natural Scotland is to showcase Scotland’s outstanding natural beauty as a unique natural environment. It is also a chance to highlight Scotland’s reputation as an easily accessible place for active pursuits and the perfect stage for outdoor events and festivals.
• VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
• For VisitScotland’s press releases, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
ENDS