Winter 1787, and a chance encounter at a tea party in Edinburgh. Robbie Burns, lad ‘o pairts and hailed as Scotland’s national bard, meets Agnes Craig, the estranged but respectable wife of a Glasgow legal agent. A liaison begins which endangers Agnes’s reputation and threatens Robbie’s engagement to Jean Armour. In between clandestine meetings, the 'lovers' conduct a coded correspondence. 'Sylvander' writes to his 'Clarinda' often, and she replies in kind.

Summer 1792; nearly five years later, the 'affair' is over. Robbie is married to Jean and has embarked on a short tour of Scotland, to see some of the country he loves. But in truth, Robbie cannot forget his Clarinda. Or so it would seem from a recent discovery.

Found recently, in an armoire that belonged to Jean, are letters that were intended for 'Clarinda', but never reached her. No doubt, Agnes had a hand in it. In the letters, Burns reveals an intriguing twist to his tour of Scotland, for they contain coded clues as to where on his journey he has buried a small bejewelled mouse, given to him by an unnamed Earl. He wants to leave her the jewel to ease her financial dependance, or possibly in the hope of rekindling their relationship. This is his teasing bequest to the woman he never possessed.

Valued at around £10,000, the craftsmanship of this creature makes it nonetheless, a ‘jewel of a value that outstrips beauty;’ a treasure that awaits discovery. But beware! The whereabouts of this ‘wee sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie’ is protected by a byzantine puzzle. And in the in the bard’s own words:

The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men,
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

If you can find Robbie's bequest to his love, it is yours to keep. Click the 'Join the Hunt' button and after you have entered a few necessary details and chosen a username and password you will be in the Hunt. All the letters have now been published and it is now possible to be able to work out the exact location of the buried mouse.

Whilst it is true that the mouse is buried, the place where it is hidden is accessible without threat of injury to your personal safety. It is not buried in any public or private garden, or in, or on any ancient monument. Anyone over 13 should be able to solve the puzzle.

Take a tour through Scotland with Burns, learn about the rich history of the country, and perhaps at the end you'll be a bit richer in other ways too ...