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Burns' portrait, by Taylor The Nasmyth Portrait Burns' portrait (from Nasmyth) Burns at Work Burns Travelling

Robert Burns on horseback, c 1790

A mezzotint engraving from a painting by James M Scrymgeour of Robert Burns during one of his Scottish tours

Robert Burns had a great curiosity about Scotland and although his life did not offer him many opportunities to travel, he made several tours of parts of the country when the opportunity arose. His first tour was during his sojourn in Edinburgh, when in the company of William Nicol he travelled into the Scottish Highlands as far as Braemar.

Later he was to make a tour of the Scottish Borders with Robert Ainslie. During this tour he crossed into England, visiting Carlisle. It was on this tour that he first came to Dumfries, the town where was to spend the last years of his life. He was honoured by being made a Freeman of the Burgh on his visit there.

Finally, after coming to live in Dumfries he made a tour of Galloway in July 1793 in the company of his friend, John Syme. Setting out on two Highland ponies they passed through Castle Douglas and along the banks of Lock Ken to Kenmuir Castle, home of John Gordon. They stayed in Gatehouse of Fleet before returning via Kirkcudbright.

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