Dumfries Accommodation

1950s Lead Miner, Wanlockhead, Museum of Scottish Leadmining
The Southern Upland Way approaching Wanlockhead
Early 20th Century Leadminers, Wanlockhead, Museum of Scottish Leadmining
Wanlockhead, Officially the highest village in Scotland at 1531 feet
The Southern Upland Way winds through Wanlockhead
Old Leadmining hats on Display at the Wanlockhead Mining Museum. Note just a simple candle

Sanquhar & Thornhill Tourist Infiormation

Weaving up the tree-lined A76 from Dumfries past Dumlanrig Castle you'll see the B797 turn-off right upto Wanlockhead (Scotland's highest village) and Leadhills. The turn-off is well worth taking, and a stunning drive through the remote Lowther Hills upto the Museum of Scottish Lead Mining and the Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway. You'll soon see why this area is called the 'Little Highlands'. As well as lead mining history and the opportunity to go down a lead mine at the museum in Wanlcokhead, there is superb walking up here, with a number of trails taking in Miner's Cottages. The Southern Upland Way passes through Wanlockhead after Sanquhar, with the Lead Mining Museum offering a welcome break and a fascinating opportunity to explore Scotland's Lead Mining History. Robert Burns even wrote a poem about the place. Lead mining evidence at Wanlockhead and Leadhills is the subject of two Scheduled Ancient Monument Areas, one for each village, created by Historic Scotland to protect the spoil heaps. In theory some of the heaps might go back to the 15th Century, or to Roman times. The Scheduled areas are the biggest ancient monuments (in terms of land mass) in the whole of Britain.

Golf fans will be impressed by the selection of golf courses in this area of Dumfries and Galloway, notably the Thornhill Golf Club. Other visitor attractions include the Tolbooth at Sanquhar, and acclaimed artist Andy Goldsworthy has lived in Penpont just outside Thornhill since 1986. As you drive into Penpont you'll spot Goldsworthy's famous Penpont Cairn egg shaped sculpture.

Featured Scotland Accommodation

Pet Friendly Carrick Cottages - Kirkcudbright

Sleep 4-9 a selection of pet friendly self catering cottages in several areas of Carrick and Brighouse Bay. Close to beaches and great country walks.

£260 to £660 Prices per week

Thornhill, Sanquhar & Andy Goldsworthy

The area stretching north from Dumfries into the heart of Nithsdale and beyond into the Lowther Hills is still a rather well kept secret. The drive up the A76 is an attractive one indeed, passing through the main highstreet at Thornhill. There's a choice of fine real ale pubs here serving food, and it's well worth detouring off west slightly to Penpont to view Andy Goldsworthy's Penpont Cairn.

Jumping back on the A76 you'll pass Drumlanrig Castle (weblink right for details), then bend round to historic market town Sanquhar. You'll notice the Tolbooth building in the town which dominates the high street. Well worth a visit, the Tolbooth Museum in Sanquhar takes a close look at the owns knitting and woollen heritage, particularly the famous two coloured patterned knitting which heralded from here. The two colour black and white hand knitted Sanquhar gloves are still extremely popular within knitting circles and the style remains well known as the Sanquhar style.

Museum of Scottish Leadmining, Wanlockhead

Just before arriving at Sanquhar on the A76, the scenic drive through the dramatic landscapes either side of the B797 upto Wanlockhead and Scotland's Lead Mining Museum. Wanlockhead is Scotland's highest village situated at over 1500 feet up and deep within the stunning Lowther Hills. Alternatively this stretch of the Southern Upland Way is one of the prettiest.

There's a rich history of Lead Mining up here at Wanlockhead and within the Lead Mining Museum complex there's an extensive exhibition looking at lives of those who worked the lead mines here across 150 years. Mining was still active in the area in the 1950s, with its origins dating back to 1710 when lead veins were first discovered at Wanlockhead. One notable visitor was Robert Burns in the 1700s who's horse had lost a shoe, and having no money to pay the Blacksmith he wrote the poem 'Pegasus' as payment, "Ye Vulcan's sons of Wanlcokhead, Pity my sad disasterr; My Pegasus is poorly shot, I'll pay you like my master". In the centre of Thornhills you'll see a lead sculpture of the horse Pegasus, made here at Wanlockhead.

With due attention to social history, this mining museum explores the use of child labour in lead mining, and the horrendous effects of working with lead before its toxicity was realised. Photography of early 20th century lead miners show them wearing simple hats with candles attached at the front for light. Also within the exhibition is an extensive display of rare minerals found in the Leadhills area, plus working models of mining machinery, mining artefacts and photography.

The best way to get a sense of mining history is to take a tour down a mine, and you can do that here at Wanlockhead via a guided tour down on-site Lochnell Mine. This mine was worked over a period of 150 years, and dates back to when a Quaker company first leased the lead veins from 1710 to 1756. Crawford & Company took it oveer from 1756 to 1842. Within Wanlockhead there's also a Minter's Library and numerous trails taking in miners cottages. Check the Lead Mining Museums website right for opening times and details. Museum of Scottish Lead Mining, Wanlockhead, By Biggar, ML12 6UT. Tel. 01659 74387.

The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway

Alongside Wanlockhead laying claim to being the highest village in Scotland, the Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway just across the border into Lanarkshire at Leadhills is Britain's highest adhesion railway, at heights of 1498 feet above sea level. This historic Dumfries & Galloway railway dates from 1900 and was originally built for the Caledonian Railway Company - obviously to transport lead into central Scotland. The current narrow gauge railway line has been built on the track bed of a Caledonian Railway line which once ran from Elvanfoot to Wanlockhead, connecting up with the Glasgow to Carlisle mainline at Elvanfoot. Passenger traffic on the line continued right up until the end of 1938. A small stretch of the track has been open, thanks as usual with historic railways to some dedicated volunteers. The station at Leadhills has been completely reconstructed from scratch.

A small stretch of the track has been open, thanks as usual with historic railways to some dedicated volunteers, and the journey takes in historic lead mining sites such as Glengonnar mine and mine buildings. The station at Leadhills has been completely reconstructed from scratch, with a shop and hot drinks and snacks available, and there is a platform shelter so you won't get blown away! The working line has now reached the Lanarkshire border, with plans afoot to extend the track further. At present trains are hauled by diesel locomotives, but there is a Decauville steam locomotive being restored to use on the line. The Orenstein and Koppel locomotive has still to be restored.

Rides on the Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway are available at Easter and then from May to September. Check the website right for timetables and directions. If you're planning to visit the Wanlockhead Lead Mining Museum it's well worth hopping on a train from Leadhills in the morning, and catching a later train back. A ride on a section of this historic railways takes in the sublime surrounding Lowther Hills scenery. Special events and steam weekends are now running here throughout the summer.

The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway, The Station, Leadhills, Lanarkshire. ML12 6XP. Scotland.