On the Trail of Robert Burns

Is there anything new to say about Robert Burns? John Cairney says it's time to trash Burns the Brand and come on the trail of the real Robert Burns. He is the best of travelling companions on the convivial, entertaining journey to the heart of the Burns story.

Alloway – Burns' birthplace. Tam O' Shanter draws on the Alloway Kirk witch stories first heard by Burns in his childhood

Mossgiel – Between 1784 and 1786 in a phenomenal burst out of creativity, Burns wrote some of his most memorable poems including 'Holy Willie's Prayer' and 'To a Mouse'

Kilmarnock – The famous Kilmarnock edition of Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect published in 1786

Edinburgh – Fame and Clarinda (among others) embraced him.

Dumfries – Burns died at the age of 37. The trail ends at the Burns Mausoleum in St Michael's Church graveyard.

Internationally known as 'the face of Robert Burns', John Cairney believes that the traditional Burns tourist trail urgently needs to find a new direction. In an acting career spanning 40 years, he has often lived and breathed Robert Burns on stage. On the Trail of Robert Burns shows just how well he has got under the skin of Burns' character. This fascinating journey around Scotland is a rediscovery of Scotland's national bard as a flesh and blood genius.