To a Highland bard

A single stanza written by Robert Burns in the 18th Century is as true today as it was then. Little could Burns have imagined that in 2009, two and a half centuries later, he would be the focal point for a major Scottish tourism initiative. For around the globe the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth is set to bring people of Scots ancestry ‘back home’ to Scotland. The next eight months of preparation will be a busy time as Scotland goes into overdrive with Homecoming Scotland 2009 and cranks up efforts not only in cultural and roots tourism, but also across the spectrum of the Scottish tourism product.

Our national bard is the primary hook of marketing efforts, and while Burns is more closely associated with Ayrshire and lowland Scotland, his body of work does contain significant Highlands and Island references too. One of his best-known pieces is the song “My heart’s in the Highlands”:

"My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer;
Chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,
My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go."

Our national bard immortalised the Highlands, it should be noted, through first-hand experience. In late June 1787, Burns conducted the first of two tours of the Highlands, travelling around the West Highlands and reaching as far north as Inveraray. A few weeks later, on August 25, Burns again leaves Ayrshire, this time accompanied by William Nicol for a further Highland odyssey. His journeying in the north of Scotland with Nicol was recorded in Burns’ “Highland journal”.

Among the places visited by Burns was Gordon Castle in Moray, which lies 8.5 miles east of Elgin. He was entertained there by Jane, Duchess of Gordon, at which time Gordon Castle was a palatial mansion. Today, all but a tall block and two wings of the once grand castle now survive.

In total, Burns visited three castles in Morayshire; the other two being Castle Grant, seat of the Grant family north of Grantown-on-Spey, and Kilravock Castle, six miles south of Nairn, following in the footsteps of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Duke of Cumberland who stayed at the castle while en route to the Battle of Culloden.

It was during these and other tours around Scotland that Burns collected old songs and drew inspiration for his poetry. In fact, his song “My heart’s in the Highlands” is set to the old Gaelic tune, Failte na Miosg.

So with two distinct Robert Burns trails here in the Highlands, it’s time perhaps to cram up on the life, times and literature of our national bard. First off, though, check out the Homecoming Scotland 2009 website for details of the marketing campaign if you haven’t already done so.

For further information on Robert Burns and his creative genius, try the following websites: robertburns.org | wikipedia.org | Scotland.org

Or you might prefer to invest £25 and order a new CD-based course developed by Scottish Agricultural College with the assistance of members of Alloway Burns Club.

 ‘Robbie Burns …Your Business!’ is designed to be an accessible learning tool to all those who come into contact with the tourist. Full of graphics, music, videos and Burns’songs it is entertaining and educational and aims to increase awareness of Scotland’s Burns’ tourism product.

The course consists of three main sections:

Part 1 introduces the learner to the importance of Burns as a cultural tourism product and highlights key business benefits associated with good product knowledge;

Part 2 is presented by Robbie himself who recounts his version of his life’s events through a series of illustrations and web links to current tourism web sites associated with his life and work;

Part 3 allows the learner to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice by designing Burns’ tourism experiences for a range of visitor scenarios, including honeymooners and American tourists.

Sample itineraries and helpful hints are a click away.

This comprehensive course was developed by Moira Birtwistle and Geoff Armstrong of SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) with the assistance of members of Alloway Burns Club and costs £25.00. To find out more and order your CD-ROM please contact Moira.Birtwistle@sac.ac.uk or tel : 01292 525033.