Having had an early run down to The Mercat Grill to do my Friday chores, home by 12 md and the sun shining time for a run out on the Steed of Steel. Bit of a change today as I headed West, through Biggar, to Abington, then off the beaten track to Elvanfoot where I found a former colleague busy in his front garden. Quick cuppa then over the moors to Leadhills and then onto Wanlockhead, the highest (coldest and wettest) village in Scotland. BUT also massively interesting with a lead mining museum, a lead mine to visit and also a place where you can book a days training at gold panning> Way back in the late 1700's they were finding the purest Scottish
Gold (used to make the Scottish Crown) and producing gold which at modern values would be worth around £500 million.
Local narrow gauge railway in the nearby Leadhills was closed as it only runs on weekends, so maybe a return visit soon to go into the mine and also try the wee train. I have a sort of hazy memory of going into the mine a long time ago. I also had a geologist friend who used to go to Wanlockhead every other weekend with his wife when they would pan for gold and reckoned they could could cover their costs with what they found.
Having started off much later than expected I had to head homewards but even so detoured towards
Lanark , and cut back over to Biggar, then cut south onto the A 701, through Blyth Bridge, and eventually back to Penicuik.
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