Poet’s Path
A 500-metre walkway in Alloway from the Birthplace Museum to Burns Cottage, lined with sculptures from Burns's best-loved poems.
The Poet's Path is the short walk that links the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum with the cottage where Burns was born, about 500 metres through the village of Alloway.
It is an easy and cheerful stroll, and it is lined with sculptures inspired by the poet's best-loved works.
Look out for the large bronze mouse standing up on its hind legs in a clipped garden, one of the best-loved sights along the way. Other sculptures along the path recall more of his most popular poems, and a signpost is etched with a horse and rider galloping, a reminder that Tam o' Shanter's story unfolds just down the road.
The path is free to walk. Follow it in either direction as part of a visit to the museum and cottage, then carry on to the Auld Kirk and the Brig o' Doon.
Open during the museum's hours as the link between the museum and Burns Cottage; the path itself is free.
- Where
- Alloway.
- Length
- 500 metres.
- Along it
- Sculptures from the poems.
In Alloway, between the Birthplace Museum on Murdoch's Lone and Burns Cottage.
Alloway Auld KirkThe kirk of the witches' dance.Under a mile1 min by road
Brig o’ DoonThe steep medieval stone bridge over the River Doon in Alloway, where Tam o' Shanter escaped the witches and his mare lost her tail.Under a mile1 min by road
Burns MonumentA 70-foot Grecian temple to Robert Burns, built from 1820 to 1823 in gardens above the Brig o' Doon, where Burns tourism began.Under a mile1 min by road
Robert Burns Birthplace MuseumThe museum at the other.Under a mile2 min by road
The Fox & Willow2 miles4 min by road
Scotland, in print.
Every photograph commissioned, every word written by somebody who went. Printed twice a year, made in Scotland.
For further reading, before you go.