Wanlockhead

Wanlockhead is a village in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland nestling in the Lowther Hills, which form part of the Southern Uplands. It is Scotland's highest village at 467m or 1531ft and the highest point of the Southern Upland Way, a walking trail that traditionally starts at Portpatrick on the west coast, in Dumfries & Galloway, and finishes some 212 miles or 341km away at Cockburnspath on the east coast, in the Scottish Borders.

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Wanlockhead owes its existence to the lead and other mineral deposits in the surrounding hills. These deposits were first exploited by the Romans, and from the 13th century they began to be worked again in the summer. The village was founded permanently in 1680 when the Duke of Buccleuch built a lead smelting plant and workers' cottages.

Related Topics:
Lead - Mineral - Romans - 13th century - 1680 - Duke of Buccleuch - Smelting

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Lead, zinc, copper and silver were mined nearby, as well as some of the world's purest gold at 22.8 carats, which was used to make the Scottish Crown. Wanlockhead became known as "God's treasure house" from the richness of its mineral resources.

Related Topics:
Lead - Zinc - Copper - Silver - Gold - Carats - Crown

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Despite a branch railway (see Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway), also the highest in Scotland, serving the village from 1901 to 1939, lead mining declined in the 20th century and finished in the 1950s. The village now features a lead mining museum and industrial equipment from the 18th century and is a popular tourist destination.

Related Topics:
Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway - 1901 - 1939 - 20th century - 1950s - 18th century - Tourist destination

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Wanlockhead is also the home of the highest pub in Scotland, the Wanlockhead Inn.

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