Burns Night in Dumfries - March 2012 Dates released.

[English Bloke]

Well Good News!!

I’ve managed to secure (or is it blag?) myself and my lovely wife a seat at the first weekend of the two Ferintosh Burns Supper Weekends in March next year (2012) - anyone want to join me?

Robertson (Pour1Malt) and Emma usually host two suppers and this year (as last) they are both in March rather than the traditional January. This is due to the slightly warmer weather and later light. As you probably know, the Ferintosh Guest House is in Dumfries which has strong historical ties to Robert Burns so it couldn’t be a more appropriate venue to enjoy and evening of poetry, pipes, singing and fine traditional Scottish cuisine.

1st Weekend 2012
Thu 22 March, Whisky Tasting Masterclass
Fri 23 March, Kilted Pub Crawl
Sat 24 March, Burns Supper at Globe Inn Dumfries

2nd Weekend 2012
Thu 29 March, Whisky Tasting Masterclass
Fri 30 March, Kilted Pub Crawl
Sat 31 March, Burns Supper at Globe Inn

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A FERINTOSH BURNS SUPPER WEEKEND - THEY CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING:

Thursday Evening is a Single Malt Whisky Tasting Masterclass with Robertson as host. Robertson has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things whisky and it is a privilege to be escorted around various bottles of differing styles and flavours by a Gent with such vast experience.

Friday Day time is a chance to visit museums or shop or pop down the road to Wigtown D&G to the Bladnoch distillery, Scotland’s most southerly distillery.

(Picture borrowed from Bladnoch Distillery Website without permission, I'm sure they won't mind.)


Friday evening is the famous Kilted Pub Crawl around all the Historical Pubs in town. It commences with a group supper at Cavens Arms.


Cavens – Great food at pub prices (picture borrowed from flickriver.com without permission.)

You do not need to drink large quantities, nor do you need to drink alcohol. There is time during the evening to spend about 30 minutes in each pub so it’s not a frantic mad-dash but it is a great chance to take loads of photos as the evening does move along fairly quickly. It culminates in the Waverley Bar with a bite to eat and a night cap before bed.


Waverley Bar (picture borrowed from dumfriescamra.org.uk without permission)

Saturday is a "do what you want day" but the main event is Saturday evening with the ultimate Burns Supper, complete with a piper, poetry, song, and an outstanding four course Traditional Scottish meal, and all for about twenty quid a head. The meal is served in the Globe Inn Dumfires which Burns described as his favorite "Howff" [public house]



the Globe Inn (Picture borrowed from FarmingUK.com without permission)

We will be having our Burns Supper in the very same room where Burns himself once supped! Guests are piped into the Globe Inn's wee back dining room where Burns was a regular visitor and his chair still resides.

There is a chance to have a short aperitif before dinner or to get a private tour of the pub's upper rooms full of fascinating Burns artifacts.

(Picture borrowed from BBC Scotland without permission)

Poetry can be seen etched by diamond in his own hand on the window glass in the preserved room where Burns would have slept. It’s as though the Great Man himself stands at your shoulder as you view it.

There are two original panes and in October 2011 another three were installed which are exact copies of the original window panes now held in the Burns museum at Alloway. They were sold in the 19th century when the Landlord fell on hard times. It's from these three originals that the painstaking replicas where made. (see full story at link)

The Globe Inn (established 1610) is 402 years old this year and a building of amazing historical importance and as mentioned above, Burns called the Globe "His Favourite Howff."

During the weekend there is a “Guess the Single Malt” Scotch Whisky tasting contest, with a prize bottle of single malt awarded to the winner. (more detail on the Ferintosh website... see below). It's also good form to bring your own bottle of Single Malt (Scottish only) to add to the Malt table. This allows everyone to try a variety of Malts over the weekend without having to fork out for 30 individual bottles. Robertson usually adds a stack of bottles from his own collection for everyone's enjoyment.

Maximum participation is the key to a successful weekend and to get the most out you need to put a bit in... It expected that all attendees participate. Robertson assigns Burns poems, speeches, and/or toasts to everyone. (With notes and translations.) First timers and ‘English as a second language’ people are given very short poems (some only 4 lines). More experienced Burns Supper attendees will be assigned the longer and more difficult speeches and poems. No one is expected to memorise their poem. Robertson sends out the assigned poems well in advance so you have plenty of time to practice it.

If you sing or play an instrument as part of the evening you’re more than welcome to give that a whirl too. It all adds to the ambience. The focus of the event is on having fun, eating good food, drinking good whisky, enjoying the company and humour of good friends and honouring the memory of a true Scottish Hero.

I’m also told, Kilts are not compulsory for the Gentlemen this year, but I’ll be wearing mine. I shall not however be bringing my pipes (much to the relief of the Dumfries and Galloway tourist board no doubt).

You can get more info or reserve your place by contacting Robertson via his website, Google Ferintosh Guest House Dumfries ... (not that there are two of them) and go from there...or Xmarks personal message to Pour1Malt.

Some freds about previous Suppers wot I has been at are linked to here.

Always quite a few XMarkers as well as other friends old and new in attendance. Honest, it's a BLAST!

2011 – March (2nd weekend)

2010 – March weekend

2010 - January weekend

2009 - March weekend

[Jordan]

Tempting, unfortunately I don't think I will be able to make it this year.

[Sir William]

Well Good News!!

Robertson (Pour1Malt) and Emma usually host two suppers and this year (as last) they are both in March rather than the traditional January.

2nd Weekend 2012
Thu 29 March, Whisky Tasting Masterclass
Fri 30 March, Kilted Pub Crawl
Sat 31 March, Burns Supper at Globe Inn

Hmmm....if I come over to Scotland a week earlier than planned I could do this!

The question then becomes what to do for the extra week (making it a 4 week instead of 3 week trip).

This requires some serious consideration!

[BCAC]

John, this is very tempting. This is something I've wanted to do for a loooong time. Imagine that, a chance to meet three famous people (Robertson, Emma and John) and have a good holiday at the same time. Unfortunately in these hard times, money is very hard to come by. I will try my best to get over for this, especially since you're going to be there, John, but, as yet, I can make no promises. I've just bought a Montrose doublet off evil-bay so (if it's in good nick) this might be the first chance I get to wear it! YES!

[cessna152towser]

We shall see.
Late January on or close to the date of the bard's birthday, 25th January, is really the traditional season for Burns Suppers here in Scotland and I am already committed to my local one here in Hawick.

Dumfries is not too far away so maybe I shall join you on one or other of the Friday evening suppers at Cavens and kilted pub crawls.

[Hamish]

Having thoroughly enjoyed several of the earlier Ferintosh Burns Weekends, I would highly recommend them to one and all. Robertson and Emma are the perfect hosts and there is never a dull moment the entire weekend. Sadly, I am still unable to travel anything like that distance and, in fact, may still be recovering from surgery during March, so I am again to be denied the pleasure of attending - however, 2013 could be a possibility!

Take care,
Ham.

[English Bloke]

Tempting, unfortunately I don't think I will be able to make it this year.

And why not exactly? Cummon Jordan, you know you want to.

Hmmm....if I come over to Scotland a week earlier than planned I could do this!

The question then becomes what to do for the extra week (making it a 4 week instead of 3 week trip).

This requires some serious consideration!

William. You could take a slow drive up towards Inverness to tour the great distilleries and visit Culloden.

On the way, you could take in:
Sterling and Falkirk (Sterling Castle, Wallace Monument and the amazing Falkirk Wheel)
Perth (Balhousie Castle, Home of the Black Watch)
Dundee (visit the RRS Discovery, Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic exploration vessel).
Aberdeen (Home of the Gordon Highlanders).
Huntly (Pop by and meet up with X Marker Jordan... hehehe... sorry couldn't resist)
Dufftown/Aberlour/Rothes (just some of the Distilleries in that neck of the woods)
... and Inverness (Culloden and Jock Scot... or at least Jock is somewhere near by.)

I'm sure that lot would take the best part of a week but you might want to hire a car.

I promise you a Burns Supper in Dumfries will be one of the highlights of your trip.

... This is very tempting... I will try my best to get over for this...

Please do if you can, it would be a pleasure to meet you David.

... maybe I shall join you on one or other of the Friday evening suppers at Cavens...

We'd both love to see you at the first w/e if you can make it Alex. Always enjoy meeting up with you.

... Sadly, I am still unable to travel ...

Fully understand but at the same time sorry to hear you are not well enough yet Ham. It would be lovely to see you again. It has been a while.

Any more takers?

[Sir William]

William. You could take a slow drive up towards Inverness to tour the great distilleries and visit Culloden.

On the way, you could take in:
Sterling and Falkirk (Sterling Castle, Wallace Monument and the amazing Falkirk Wheel)
Perth (Balhousie Castle, Home of the Black Watch)
Dundee (visit the RRS Discovery, Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic exploration vessel).
Aberdeen (Home of the Gordon Highlanders).
Huntly (Pop by and meet up with X Marker Jordan... hehehe... sorry couldn't resist)
Dufftown/Aberlour/Rothes (just some of the Distilleries in that neck of the woods)
... and Inverness (Culloden and Jock Scot... or at least Jock is somewhere near by.)

I'm sure that lot would take the best part of a week but you might want to hire a car.

I promise you a Burns Supper in Dumfries will be one of the highlights of your trip.

So far my planned trip already includes:
Jacobite battle sites at Prestonpans, Falkirk and Sheriffmuir
Stirling Castle, Wallace Monument, etc
Dundee
Scone Palace
Balmoral Castle
Royal Lochnagar Distillery
Glamis Castle
Pitlochry (Edrodour Distillery, Killiecrankie, and Blair Castle)
Newtonmore (Highland Folk Museum)
Ruthven Barracks
Inverness (Fort George and perhaps another visit to Culloden)
Possibly the Glenrothes distillery
Tain (Glenmorangie Distillery)
Latheron (Gunn Museum if open)
Wick (castle)
Auckengill (Viking Museum if open)
John O'Groats and Dunnet Head
Orkney (still deciding on what to see)
Isle of Skye (Uig, Talisker Distillery, and Clan Donald Centre)
Plockton
Eilean Donan Castle
Glenshiel (yet another Jacobite battle site)
Fort William
Glencoe
Appin
Edinburgh (to see what I missed the last two visits)

I visited the Black Watch Museum in Perth two years ago.

I'm doing 2 weeks on my own (self-drive), and 3 days on a tour as part of my business trip, so I'll be seeing quite a bit.

Of course, I'm hoping to meet any X-Markers who may be in the neighborhood if it can be arranged.

[English Bloke]

Blimey! It seems you have it covered

I hope you can make it to Dumfries. Seems to be the only thing missing from your itinerary. Hope too that you have a smashing time, I'm sure you will with that plan.

[Sir William]

Blimey! It seems you have it covered

I hope you can make it to Dumfries. Seems to be the only thing missing from your itinerary. Hope too that you have a smashing time, I'm sure you will with that plan.

Once I determine how much the present trip is costing me I'll be able to determine if I can afford the extra week.

If not this year, I'll be in the Borders in 2013 and will be exploring southern Scotland on that trip.