Scotland: National Rural NetworkRobert Burns lived nearly all of his short life within a 30 mile wide, 80 mile long strip of land made up of Ayrshire and Dumfriesshire, for sake of a better name: Burns Corridor. This Corridor is filled with iconic figures, from Robert Bruce to William Wallace, William Murdoch to Kirkpatrick MacMillan, James Keir Hardie to Bill Shankley, The Admirable Crichton to John Paul Jones and even Peter Pan. How many people know of the rural settlements and their connections with such icons? Is there a way of networking and promoting interesting visits for visitors? Instead of passing through, suggest visitors stop for a couple of hours to soak up the heritage. To have a local meal with local ale, to buy some local crafts and hear some local tales. http://burnscorridor.proboards.com/
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Loudon Hill near Darvel
The perfect example has arisen for showing the need for Burns Corridor Network: Loudon Hill. Extract from MINUTES OF Society of William Wallace Annual General Meeting. 15th MARCH 2011. [Quote]Following a suggestion by William Ballantyne that the Society should commemorate Wallace’s victory at Loudoun Hill, Duncan has had talks with Duncan Thomson, chairman of the Strathleven Artizans, with a view to holding a joint Bruce/Wallace commemoration. Author Sarah Crome, writer of Scotland’s First War of Independence, will be the main speaker this year. A member of both Societies involved will speak about their respective heroes. A local councillor will also be invited to speak. William has been to see the proprietors of the Loudon Hill Inn as a suitable venue for refreshments following the commemoration.[Quote]
http://www.thesocietyofwilliamwallace.com/min.htm
Please take a look at: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000953030034#!/photo.php?fbid=192488090792957&set=o.127114740655869&theater
This event coincides with: The 10th anniversary of Darvel Music Festival right on the doorstep: Celebrating 10 years of fantastic music, - Traditional/Celtic Rock on Saturday 7 May 2011 featuring: Wolfstone - Skerryvore - The Simple Touch.
http://www.darvelmusicfestival.org/
Imagine going to one event, not knowing about the other. Network!
Burns Witch Trail
Robert Burns was brought up listening to tales of witches and warlocks. Did he follow the witches trail from Ayr to Dumfries? "From the Northmost of the [New Cumnock] Lochs a current runs North to Cumnock & Ayr, and from the same Loch into Nith & so to Dumfries, a very rare thing for two streams to flow from the same piece of Water in contrary directions."
Captain Andrew Armstrong: A new map of Ayrshire, 1775.
The 13th of April is the anniversary of one of Dumfries's darkest days; when nine poor souls were burned at the stake at the Whitesands for being found guilty of being witches. Very near to where Rabbies first Dumfries house stood. How many other tales of witchcraft lie within Burns Corridor? How many Hotels and Inns with atmosphere? How many trails/tours can we help visitors discover? HOSTS
Scottsland festival
Is there something that could be done in the area along the same lines as the Scottsland festival which took place in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park last summer? Here's the link to the website: http://www.scottsland.co.uk/
They had a series of events around Sir Walter Scott's poem Lady of the Lake.