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Dalrymple

In this quiet little village of weavers’ cottages Burns first received an education. While staying at Mount Oliphant, he and his brother Gilbert attended the Parish School on alternate weeks. The village sits beside the River Doon, and has a small Parish Church built in 1849.

Some people say it was the inspiration for the musical Brigadoon, about a mysterious Scottish village that only appears every 100 years. Alan Jay Lerner, who wrote the words, was looking for a way of turning a German fairy tale about a magical village called Germelshausen into a musical. One day while in Scotland he suddenly happened upon Dalrymple, which sits in a small glen, hidden until you’re almost upon it. He immediately thought of locating his musical in Scotland, and called it Brigadoon because there really is a bridge over the River Doon in the village. He also called one of the characters Charlie Dalrymple.

Two miles south of Dalrymple, and straight out of a fairy tale as well, is Cassillis Castle (private), the home of the Marquis of Ailsa, head of Clan Kennedy. It is a wonderful concoction of pepper pot turrets and towers built originally in the 15th century but added to throughout the years.