Auld Nick’s Walk
Narrative – John Skilling
Photographs – John Skilling and Amy Hoyle
Webpage construction – Amy Hoyle
The walk starts and ends at Rozelle House and as a walk
can be completed in about 90 minutes, if you are in a hurry.
John and Margaret Skilling like their coffee so there are a few coffee breaks possible en route. In normal times refreshment stops are possible; Rozelle House, Poet’s Corner, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Brig O Doon House Hotel and the Secret Garden are all on the way round and the
Balgarth Pines only needs a short detour.
You may find John and Margaret in any of these.
Go to current map of route Start the Walk
For the virtual tour on the website the route has been divided into four sections so that it is possible to cover it in easy stages. Throughout the online tour there are options to view to either a modern map or a map surveyed in 1856, shortly before the present Alloway Parish Church was built.
The modern maps are all based on maps which are copyright
OpenStreetMap contributors
( www.openstreetmap.org/copyright ).
The 1856 maps are reproduced with the permission of the
National Library of Scotland
(e.g. https://maps.nls.uk/view/74951282 ).
The stages are:-
1) Rozelle to the Smiddy, Alloway by way of the stockbridge and Charkie’s marker (both now on Belleisle Golf Course).
This route is coloured in light blue on the maps.
Go to start of Stage 1 Go to current Map for Stage 1 Go to 1856 Map for Stage 1
2) Burns’ Cottage to Auld Kirk Alloway by way of Alloway Village Hall, Greenfield Avenue and the Cairn in CairnCrescent.
This route is coloured in yellow on the maps.
Go to start of Stage 2 Go to current Map for Stage 2 Go to 1856 Map for Stage 2
3) Auld Nick’s View to The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum by way of Alloway Parish Church, the old railway line and Mungo’ Well.
This route is coloured in purple on the maps.
Go to start of Stage 3 Go to current Map for Stage 3 Go to 1856 Map for Stage 3
4 Burns Monument Memorial Gardens back to Rozelle passing the Auld Brig o Doon, Doonside Mill, Alloway Mill, Doonfoot Bridge and Bellisle Estate.
This route is coloured in red on the maps.
Go to start of Stage 4 Go to current Map for Stage 4 Go to 1856 Map for Stage 4