South Beach Cottage - Accommodation in Troon - Quality Cottage Scotland, South Ayrshire, Scotland

2009 marks the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns's birth and Alloway in Ayrshire will play host to the ‘Year of Homecoming' during the weekend of 24th and 25th January. In addition a range of other celebratory events will be held throughout the year. South Beach Cottage is well placed for a visit to Alloway which is just 15/20 minutes drive from the cottage. Visit the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and Burns National Heritage Park both of which are under ownership of the National Trust for Scotland. The museum brings Burns to life for in 21st century, celebrating his life, work and contribution to Scottish culture.
Robert Burns was born on 25 January 1759 in the village of Alloway in Ayrshire. For much of his life he was involved with the land and physical toil and knew well the difficulties of poverty and deprivation. Nevertheless, as a young man he had taken to writing poetry, much of it in his native Scots language. This was unusual - by the end of the 18th century Scots was no longer regarded as the speech of "educated" men and women. In 1786 he was about to emigrate to the West Indies when he published a collection of his poems in the county town of Kilmarnock - "Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect". The book (now known as the Kilmarnock Edition) was an instant success and instead of emigrating he went to Edinburgh where he was welcomed by a number of leading literary figures.
The money he earned firstly allowed him to travel. During his journeys he was to collect and edit many of the almost forgotten songs and, of course, obtain inspiration for further poetry. Despite the money, which he earned from his poems, he still had to make a living by being both a farmer and an excise officer in Dumfries. While trying to cultivate an unproductive farm and carry out his duties as an excise man, he continued to write - mainly collections of songs, which would otherwise have been lost forever. His health had never been particularly robust and he died, aged 37, on 21 July 1796.
Burns Cottage was built in 1757 by the hands of Robert Burns' father, William Burns. On January 25, 1759, while the cold winter winds blew in from the Atlantic, it became the scene of Scotland's most famous birthday when Robert Burns was born. The simple Auld Clay Biggin where the World's most loved poet was born has long been a must-see destination. Famous visitors have included John Keats, Clark Gable and Muhammed Ali. The cottage has been fully restored to it original condition.
Burns National Heritage Park For 200 years, the beautiful scenery of Alloway and its special connection with the life and works of Robert Burns have drawn visitors to this stunning Ayrshire village. Burns National Heritage Park offers visitors a chance to experience the rich heritage of Burns within the environment that inspired his imagination. Supported by modern visitor facilities and easily accessible by road and public transport, the park is an ideal destination for young and old alike.
	Useful "Rabbie Burns" Links Burns National Heritage Park National Trust for Scotland National Burns Collection Home of the Burns BBC Celebrates Robert Burns Academy of Poets