At age sixteen Burns father sent him to Kirkoswald to study maths. This period of his life could almost be compared to modern day University as Burns was about to have his eyes opened and horizons broadened.

​

Kirkoswald was rife with smuggled contraband and drunken orgies took place for days at a time. Burns was seeing new things in Kirkoswald and this was where he first visited a tavern. He lived with his uncle at Balochneil Farm.

​

Burns got interested in debating here. As well as spending hours with William Niven on the walk home from school via Crossraguel considering topics, he also attempted to form a debating society but fellow students reported him.

 

Burns fell in love with Kirkoswald and enjoyed an innocent relationship with Peggy Thompson who was so distracting to Burns that his work suffered and he roamed around in ecstasy composing verses of love about her instead.

​

Today Kirkoswald is an excellent day trip with Souter Johnnie's Cottage and Inn nestled amongst other attractions and the graveyard holding the real life people who inspired Tam o' Shanter, his grandparents and old schoolteacher.

 

Kirkoswald was a joyous time in Burns life where he first felt truly alive discovering both debate and rapture on those enlightened evenings ...