Castle No 1. Shut.

Archie went trotting off for walkies with the Kiwis this morning without a backward look at his mums, who then got into the car and drove off without him. We were heading south to Dumfries, to see a couple of castles that have been on my wish list for years.

We've passed the sign on the motorway to Drumlanrig Castle dozens of times, but have never followed it. And it went on forever. Through lovely countryside, mind you. The sign said, 'Open for the season', but when we arrived, we discovered that only the gardens were open. No use to me. But we did have a cuppa in the old kitchen, full of big copper cooking pots.

Onward to Dumfries, and we passed Ellisland Farm where Robert Burns lived and worked for three years, and was at his most prolific. We had a great time there - the custodian showed us round personally. We sat in Rabbie's kitchen (see extra), visited the room (other extra) that he wrote all his letters, songs and poems in, and went a woodland walk (yet another extra) - Archie would have loved it. Rabbie must have done that walk many times, but no poetic inspiration came to us...

We're not staying in a flash country house this time, but a reasonably priced chain inn. Pretty good too, compared to some of the tiny rooms we've been squashed into in quite unreasonably priced hotels.

Tomorrow we head to another castle, possibly in the rain. Let's hope it's open!!