The Muckle Burn
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
THE MUCKLE BURN (J5x40) 5C set Ian Barbour Dancers' Choice1- 8 1s and 3s cast 1 place and dance LH across 1½ way to end facing corners (1M-5L, 1L-4M, 3M-4L, 3L-2M)
9-16 1s and 3s dance ½ diagonal reel of 4 with 1st corners, ½ diagonal reel with 2nd corners and end facing 3rd corner
17-24 1s and 3s dance ½ diagonal reel with 3rd corners ending on side (53412) and all set and cross RH
25-32 5s+3s also 4s+1s set and link and dance RH across
33-40 All dance 5 couple set and link twice (as 3 couple set and link but 2 couples on left dance up/down while others 3 cast and chase) 24153
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams
Dance Instruction Videos
The Muckle Burn - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
The phrase "Muckle Burn" can be understood by breaking down the meanings of the individual words in the Scots dialect:"Muckle" means "large" or "great."
"Burn" means "stream" or "small river."
Therefore, "Muckle Burn" translates to "large stream" or "great stream." It is used to describe a sizable or significant stream or small river in the context of Scottish (or Northern English) landscapes.
Unsurprisingly, then, this title may refer to a great number of different locations.
Muckle Burn
Image copyright Ann Harrison under this Creative Commons Licence 2.0.
Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing Instructions 'The Muckle Burn' page