River Nith

So legend says that Burns composed Tam O'Shanner in a single day.

He was living in a farm called Ellislin Farm along the banks of the River Nith in Ayr, which again is a district in southwestern Scotland.

And the family reportedly could look out the window and see Burns walking up and down the river, talking to himself and reciting the poem as he composed it.

The story goes is that Burns actually based it on a fellow that he knew, and that was quite common.

We're at a place called Kingholm Quay Which is, uh, just on the outskirts of Dumfries.

We're on the shores of the River Nith, and that's flowing out to the sea.

We've got a small marina here, but it's just a kind of tranquil place.

The tide's on the way out, uh, as we speak.