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Mauchline is a
village situated
about 12 miles
northeast of Ayr, 9
miles southeast of
Kilmarnock.
The most interest
in Mauchline today,
is from people
researching the poet
Robert Burns 1759 -
1796. Burns lived at
Mossgiel Farm by
Mauchline, from 1784
until he set up home
in Mauchline with his
wife Jean Armour in
February 1788. They
lived in a room in
what is now the
(Burns House Museum)
in Castle Street.
Burns and his family
moved to Ellisland
Farm by Dumfries in
1789.
Burns time at
Mauchline was
eventful as he met
his wife, a local
woman Jean Armour in
1784, had a daughter
to a woman from
Tarbolton named
Elizabeth Paton in
1785, had an affair
with "Highland" Mary
Campbell in the
summer of 1786, and
fathered a son with
Jenny Clow in 1788,
who he met while in
Edinburgh promoting
his work. The love
affairs, and the town
of Mauchline, are
said to have inspired
Burns to write many
of his finest works,
referred to as The
Golden Years.
The village has a
number of buildings
linked to Burns, such
as the Burns House
Museum where he
lived, Poosie Nansies
Inn where The Jolly
Beggars Howff was
situated, Mauchline
Castle where Burns is
believed to have
married Jean Armour,
and the National
Burns Monument opened
in 1898.
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The monument has been
used as a Tourist
Information Centre and
Museum in the past, but is
rarely opened today. It is
situated on the west side
of Mauchline (traveling
towards Kilmarnock).
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The Burns House
Museum, as seen in
this image, is
situated in the
centre of Mauchline
on Castle Street
with period
buildings and
cobbled
streets.
Reviews/Map:
KA5
5BZ
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The museum contains a
period room where Robert
Burns began his married
life, a display of Burns
memorabilia and gives
information on Burns life
in Mauchline
(1784-1788).
The museum may be open
Tuesday-Saturday 10.30-1700
and 14.00-17.00 on
Sunday’s. Check
opening times Tel: 01563
576 000.
Website .
Large Image
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Mauchline Church
is also in the
village centre next
to the Burns House
Museum. This Church
was completed in
1829, 41years after
Burns had left the
village.
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Mauchline Church is
built on the site that
previously held St
Michael’s Church
built in the 1200s.
Large Image.
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Mauchline Castle
was built in the
1400s as a monastic
residence for
Melrose Abbey.
Large
Image
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Robert Burns is believed
to have married Jean Armour
in the Castles dining
room.
With the Castle now
being the family home of
Alexander Hamilton, it is
not open to the public.
However, you do get rear
views of the castle from
the cobbled streets around
the Burns House Museum.
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Poosie
Nansie’s
Tavern is across
the road from the
church. This is one
of two pubs in the
centre of
Mauchline, ideally
situated for drinks
and meals. Large
Image
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The oldest parts of
Poosie Nansie’s date
back to the 1700s. This
tavern, that may have been
a brothel in the times of
Burns, inspired Burns to
write the cantata Jolly
Beggars.
Meals available from
12.00 - 15.00 Monday to
Friday, 12.00 - 20.00
Saturday and Sunday. For
enquiries phone 01290 550
316.
Burns Club Website
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Across the road
from the Tavern is
the Fairburn Hotel,
a former coaching
inn named the
Loudon Arms.
Large
Image
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On the front of the
hotel is a 'spout' where
residents and travelers
have drawn water for
generations. The water from
the spout comes from a
geological formation in the
district.
www.fairburnhotel.co.uk
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In the centre of
Mauchline, at The
Cross, is the
Labrary with a
Statue of Jean
Armour in
front.
Large
Image Up
Close
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The statue is made of
bronze, unveiled by Lady
Hagart-Alexander of
Ballochmyle on the 30th
November 2002, St Andrews
day. The statue looks
toward Castle Street where
Jean and Robert lived.
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The 5,972-yard
par 70, Ballochmyle
Golf Course, is
situated about two
miles northeast of
Mauchline, off the
B705.
Website
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This is fine looking
course with tree lined
fairways that welcomes
visitors, prices around
£28 per round. The
clubhouse offers full
catering and bar
facilities. Bookings/price
check, phone 01290 550
469.
All Ayrshire golf
courses
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