Dumfries to Auchinleck

Michael concludes his journey from Cumbria to Dumfriesshire by crossing the Solway Firth into Scotland, where he visits the beautifully preserved last home of Scotland’s greatest poet, Robert Burns. At his mausoleum, he reflects on Burns’s enduring legacy before enjoying one of his songs performed in the Scots language.

Further north into the Lowther Hills, Michael strikes gold in the rich geological landscape around Wanlockhead, Scotland’s highest village, and rides a charming heritage industrial railway across the stunning terrain.

The journey ends at the spectacular Palladian mansion of Dumfries House, home to a world-class Chippendale furniture collection and the headquarters of the King’s Foundation. In a traditional skills workshop, Michael discovers why he was never destined to be a builder.