Ev'n winter bleak has charms to me
When winds rave thro' the naked tree
Or frosts on hills of Ochiltree
are hoary grey ...
Epistle To William Simpson, Ochiltree
AYRSHIRE ITHER LANDS
ITHER ayrSHIRE
Most if not all of Ayrshire has been touched by Burns. Today the North Ayrshire Heritage Centre in Saltcoats holds a small collection of books and Stevenston has the Bonnie Lesley Memorial.
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Ochiltree was home to William Simson, who studied at Glasgow University before becoming schoolmaster at Ochiltree and Cumnock. He wrote in rhyme to Burns and Burns replied with an epistle to him (Within Kilmarnock Edition).
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Likewise, John Lapraik from Muirkirk, inkeeper, postmaster and local poet was influential to Burns and received three epistles to John Lapraik. In the first Burns describes himself as 'just a rhymer', the second details his lowly mood.
Other Ayrshire links include when Burns father worked in Fairlie Estate and when Burns stayed in Newmilns when he was planning his journey to Jamaica.
LANDMARKS
DISCOVERIES
WWII Memorial Ardrossan
Shows Burns between David Livingstone and James Watt on this stone carving.
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Bonnie Lesley Memorial Stevenston
Bonnie Lesley, a muse of Burns.
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John Lapraik Memorial Muirkirk
Burns correspondant and fellow poet.
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Grave of Rev. Dr. Robert Duncan, Dundonald
The Duncan in the Burns poem The Twa Herds
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Auchincruive
Cairn in honour of Burns and Wallace.