Two of Scotland’s top visitor attractions will mark the life and works of one of Scotland’s most famous poets and exports Robert Burns

EDINBURGH, 2015-1-22 — /Travel PR News/ — Two of Scotland’s top visitor attractions will mark the life and works of one of Scotland’s most famous poets and exports, Robert Burns, this weekend.

Taking place over the weekend of the 24th and 25th January, the events will see Edinburgh and Stirling Castles celebrate the Scottish bard’s lasting legacy, with  visitors having the opportunity to discover more about some of his most iconic works that are still studied throughout the world almost 220 years later.

Edinburgh Castle’s Great Hall will once again welcome back the popular ‘Burns for Beginners’ event, which will see a Burns costumed performer recite some of the literary great’s works including Tam O’Shanter and A Man’s a Man for A’ That. Taking place at scheduled times on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th, visitors will be introduced to the bard himself as well as his written word, whilst being encouraged to think about what he might have meant at the time he penned them.

Commenting on the upcoming event, Nick Finnigan, Executive Manager of Edinburgh Castle, said: “During a weekend which will see tributes to Scotland’s favourite son take place across the country and further afield, our popular ‘Burns for Beginners’ activity will once again return to the castle’s Great Hall. Burns is renowned throughout the world for his poetry and this event will provide visitors with an insight into the bard himself and some of his most iconic works.”

To mark the widely celebrated birthday weekend of the Scottish poet, Stirling Castle’s ‘A Celebration of Burns’ will see a series of special Burns themed tours. Following in the footsteps of Burns, when he visited the castle in 1787, visitors will be able to take in the surrounds of the impressive landmark whilst listening to some of his related works.

This year will also see the return of the ‘Burns for Bairns’ for a second year. These special tours are designed to offer younger visitors an exciting introduction to the poet and will see a castle watchman guide them through the castle, just as he might have guided Burns some 228 years ago. Visitors keen to release their inner poet can also try their hand at penning their very own lines about their Burns visit to the castle at Poet’s Corner, in the Great Hall.

With 2015 celebrating ‘The Year of Food and Drink’, the castle’s Great Hall will host a special event, looking at the origins of the traditional Burns Supper. Whilst a special selection of Burns-inspired dishes including traditional haggis, neeps and tatties, Scotch broth and shortbread will be on the menu at the Unicorn Café.

Commercial Business Manager for Stirling Castle, Liz Grant, said: “Our weekend-long Burns event  will see a whole host of themed activities take place offering a great insight into the poet, as well as exploring his connections with the castle itself.

“This year’s celebrations, will also see the return of our hugely popular  ‘Burns for Bairns’, activities, specially designed  to provide our younger visitors with an introduction to the bard himself and his writing – one not to be missed by any youngsters.”

Edinburgh Castle’s ‘Burns for Beginners’ events take place at 11.15am, 12.15pm, 2pm and 3pm onSaturday 24th and Sunday 25th January 2015. This event is included in the cost of admission to the castle.

Stirling Castle’s Burns themed tours take place at 12noon and 2pm, with Burns Supper and Poet’s corner activities taking place from 12noon onwards and ‘Burns for Bairns’ tours taking place at 2.15pm. These timings apply for both Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th January 2015. These events and activities are included in the cost of admission to the castle.

Notes for editors:

• Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government charged with safeguarding the nation’s historic environment. The agency is fully accountable to Scottish Ministers and through them to the Scottish Parliament.

• Register for media release email alerts from www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/news. If you wish to unsubscribe at any time, please email hs.website@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

• 2015 is the Year of Food and Drink, a celebration of Scotland’s natural larder and the role that food and drink plays in shaping our economic success. Scotland generates over £2.5m per day through food and drink tourism. A series of themed months will create an appetite for key areas of Scotland’s food and drink industries – from seafood and whisky to berries and high-quality meat. To find out more visit www.visitscotland.com/tastescotland.

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For further information
Grant Thomson, Communications Officer
Historic Scotland Media Office
0131 668 8074 or 07580 702 611
grant.thomson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.uk

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Two of Scotland’s top visitor attractions will mark the life and works of one of Scotland’s most famous poets and exports Robert Burns