Robert Burns Ellisland Museum and Farm

16/10/2026

It’s no secret that Burns enjoyed a dram or two… so it may be of little surprise that Burns was called upon to turn a drinking competition into verse!

On this day, 16th October, 1790, Burns was at the centre of a somewhat unusual gathering at Friar’s Carse, the home of his friend Captain Robert Riddell.

Riddell owned an ancient ebony whistle, said to have been the prize of historic drinking contests, and so challenged his neighbours Sir Robert Laurie of Maxwelton and Alexander Fergusson of Craigdarroch to compete for the prize. Burns was invited to witness the drinking contest and commemorate it in verse, giving rise to the poem The Whistle.

Today, visitors to Ellisland Museum & Farm can find an original manuscript of The Whistle in Burns’s Spence and discover more of the stories, friendships and inspirations behind his work.

Plan your next visit and discover more at www.ellislandfarm.co.uk

08/10/2026

**EVENT CANCELLED - PLEASE CONTACT [email protected] IF YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE**

True or False? 👀

You’ve got what it takes to take the top spot in the Burns Quiz…

But have you signed up yet?

This is your final call to join the Dumfries Burns Club Quiz at Ellisland - get your team together, brush up on your Burns and get ready for an evening of questions, competition and good entertainment.

Registrations close on Monday 11th October. Sign up on Eventbrite today to avoid missing out!

04/10/2026

Today marks the final day of Climate Week Scotland 2026, a week dedicated to encouraging and inspiring climate action.

The Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne project is about more than rescuing a historic site. It is focused on creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly heritage destination.

Restorations to the original Category A-listed buildings will improve their environmental sustainability using sensitive insulation fabrics, traditional mortar techniques and the installation of air source heat pumps, making the site fully electric. These plans represent improved energy performance, with a potential to reduce carbon emissions by 78%.

By carefully adapting this remarkable place for the future, we can help ensure that Ellisland remains a living part of Scotland’s heritage for generations to come.

Find out more about our project plans by visiting www.ellislandfarm.co.uk

02/10/2026

**EVENT CANCELLED - PLEASE CONTACT [email protected] IF YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE**

We’re looking forward to welcoming Dumfries Burns Club to Ellisland for a special Burns quiz!

Have you signed up yet?
Aye - Give this post a like
Not yet - Comment 'Burns' and tag your teammates
Yes! - Share this post with Burns fans who should take part

Teams of four can register to go head to head and put their Burns knowledge to the test on Eventbrite.

Ellisland Museum & Farm
Wednesday 14th OCTOBER
6:30pm - 8:30pm

01/10/2026

This National Poetry Day, take a moment of pause with us and soak in the sights and sounds that Burns once knew.

This is the place that inspired Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, to write almost a third of his life’s work in just three years. From Auld Lang Syne to Tam o Shanter, Ellisland Farm shaped Burns and in turn shaped Scotland’s culture for centuries to come.

Today, we invite you to reflect on Burns and what his writings mean to you. Help us to celebrate Burns and share your favourite poem, memory or story with us in the comments! 👇

25/09/2026

Burns once wrote in a letter to George Thomson, "Autumn is my propitious season; I make more verses in it than all the year else."

As the seasons change at Ellisland, it is not hard to understand why. Colder temperatures, warming colours and crunchy leaves underfoot bring a special atmosphere to this place.

Visit Ellisland to experience the nature that inspired Burns at this time of year for yourself.

Our doors are open until 31st October, Tuesday - Sunday, 10 - 4pm.

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, why not drop-in to Ellisland between 11am and 2pm to help us harvest our orchard, and have your pickings pressed into apple juice!

Visit the event page to find out more.

18/09/2026

Think you know your ‘Auld Lang Syne’ from your ‘Tam o Shanter’?

Put your knowledge to the test and join Dumfries Burns Club at Ellisland Museum & Farm for a Robert Burns Quiz!

Gather a team of friends or fellow Burnsians to take part in this exciting evening of trivia where quizzers will also enjoy a hearty soup and bannock supper and musical entertainment from Stephen Shepard 🎶

Wednesday 14th October
6:30 - 8:30pm
Ellisland Museum & Farm

Teams of 4 must register on Eventbrite or contact [email protected] on or before Sunday 11th October to take part.

For more information, visit the event page (link in bio)

17/09/2026

Great opportunity! We are part of the Dumfries and Galloway Burns Tourism Partnership and look forward to this post being filled. It’s a great opportunity, not just for the successful candidate, but for developing the enormous local potential of Burns tourism

Robert Burns packed a lot into 37 years on this earth. Between wrestling stony ground at Ellisland, clocking hundreds of miles through Nithsdale as an exciseman, and writing many of his iconic works here, he put the South of Scotland firmly on the world map.

Now, it’s time to take that iconic legacy forward and turn a big vision into real, tangible momentum for our visitor economy.

The Burns Tourism Partnership is looking for a practical, proactive project manager to lead a high-profile, two-year programme celebrating Robert Burns in Dumfries. We’re keen to find the right person with the drive to get things done, which is why we’ve refreshed this opportunity to offer maximum flexibility.

The Role at a Glance
Project Manager – Burns Tourism Partnership (2-Year Contract)
Location. Dumfries (hybrid options available, with a meaningful, regular presence in town)
Salary / Fee: Open to full-time employment (£30,000 p.a.), part-time arrangements, or freelance / consultancy proposals

Closing Date: 9am, Monday, 5th October 2026

What We’re Looking For
* A proven track record in project delivery and stakeholder management.
* A practical, hands-on focus on getting results, creating buzz, and building genuine local connections.
* The energy to champion Dumfries’ tourism sector with forward-thinking ambition

Whether you’re an experienced freelancer or looking for your next fixed-term post, if you have the project-management chops to champion Burns country on the wider stage, we'd love to hear from you.

Find the full brief and submit your application or proposal contact Sarah Macdonald at [email protected]