Wanlockhead Village
High in the Lowther Hills to the west of the M74 in Dumfries and Galloway, is Wanlockhead, Scotland’s highest village at 467m (1531 ft). It owes its existence to the lead, gold and other minerals found under the surrounding countryside.
These mineral deposits were probably first exploited by the Romans and from the 1200s they were being worked again by groups of miners who gathered here each summer. The first permanent settlement appeared in about 1680, when the Duke of Buccleuch built a lead smelting plant and workers’ cottages that could be occupied all year round.
Although lead was for many centuries the mainstay of the village’s economy, it was not the only mineral found here. What became known as “God’s Treasure House” also produced zinc, copper, silver and gold. Some of the world’s purest gold, at 22.8 carats, was found locally and used in the Regalia of the Scottish Crown.
Today’s Wanlockhead depends primarily on tourism. The Southern Upland Way long distance footpath passes through the village, but the main attraction for the motoring tourist revolves around the village’s industrial past.
Information from Undiscovered Scotland.
Camera: Canon EOS 450D (Digital Rebel XSi in the USA)
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Three bracketed JPGs converted to HDR in Photomatix.
Related shots can be found at: Wanlockhead and Lowland Scotland.
Featured in : A Place To Call Home : 11 July 09
Featured in : Sets of Two : 12 July 09
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BarbaraManis
Lovely looking village and you captured it so well, Tom. Thanks for the info also!
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you Barbara …
Phil Thomson IPA
What a wonderful image with a beautiful quaint storybook atmosphere, especially from this POV, Tom !!!
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you Phil, it is a lovely little hilltop village …
Bootiewootsy
Great composition as the viewer is drawn straight into the photo, lush with different shades of greens, with the homes on the side. Lovely photo
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you so much Carol, I always look forward to you visits.
How is John?
Maureen Bloesch
wonderful comp…great color!
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you so much Maureen …
Laddie Halupa
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you so much Laddie, I am honoured …
Lori Peters
Congratulations, Tom. xo
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you Lori …
jchanders
Wonderful little place and fascinating story.
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you Juergen …
Robin Brown
Been there & went on the tour too. Even did a wee bit of Gold Panning a few years back. Found a wee bit of gold, a few grams. Bonnie shot Tom!!
Tom Gomez replied
Cheers mate, so you did not get enough to retire on then …
Irene Burdell
I bet it’s hard work walking up that hill , great shot Tom. x
Tom Gomez replied
Although overcast, it was quite warm, so it was a bit of a climb. Thanks for the visit and great comment Irene …
Denis Molodkin
Excellent work, perfectly done!
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you so much Denis …
Catherine Veal
looks such a nice place Tom and congrats on the feature.x
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you so much dear Ctherine …
Andrew Ness
That new monopod is paying dividends, these HDR images are very clear.
Tom Gomez replied
Thanks Andy. I have always been too idle about using my tripod, so most of my shots tended to be handheld. I have a pretty steady hand, so it has mostly worked out OK. I had been thinking of getting a monopod for ages and had looked at lots. I could not decide if I wanted a lightweight one which folded up small or something more substantial. I finally decided on a substantial Manfroto monopod (almost as heavy as my tripod) and I added a tilting head with a quick release plate. It is so much easier to keep the shots still and really simple to move on to the next shot.
Andrew Ness
What’s the model number Tom? I’m in the process of looking for a monopod or tripod. Certainly I can see a huge improvement on your HDR images (not that before was terrible) just your new images are so much clearer, I can’t believe the difference. Can I ask where you bought it from and how much too?
Tom Gomez replied
I bought the Manfrotto 679B, it was £39.99. I added the Tilt head with quick release plate (Manfrotto 234RC). Can’t remember the actual price (I think about £17). It is a chunky bit of kit, but not as much as a tripod. I bought both from Black & Lizars at the West End. I’m 6ft tall and fully extended, it is just perfectly at my eye level.
Martina Fagan
Great pov and comp Tom:))
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you once again Tina …
Paul Vanzella
Like a painting Tom – love the way you have handles this!
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you Paul, much appreciated …
dinghysailor1
fantastic capture and fascinating description too.. cheers
:))
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you so much Maggie …
Hans Kawitzki
Very pictures little village,great image
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you so much Hans …
Antanas
lovely scene
CLICK
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you Antanas …
The book looks wonderful.
John44
A scene for a movie
Perfect
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you John, strange that you should say that. The new UK Drama Hope Springs is filmed in this village.
Adri Padmos
This is a typical “WHOW”-picture Tom!
Great view at this lovely place.
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you so much for your great comment Adri …
John44
No Tom I think not strange
Due to our mutual hobby we develop a sort of ‘extra eye’ for this kind of things
Keep in mind .. many TV series and movies filmed in the UK have been on screen here ..Not only the Onedin line or: Are you being served :
))Pride and prejudice.. Wurthering heights ..etc etc..
My ABSOLUTE WINNER EVER is All creatures great and small (James Herriot)
So here is my answer to your remark my dear friend .. Your shot IS an excellent film set scene ..
Cheerio from Holland :
John
hilarydougill
Love this tom, I love all your pictures of the Scottish countryside and your gorgeous histories, the stories make the picture so much more interesting. love and hugsxxx
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you so much dear Hilary, lovely to hear from you …
Lucindawind
I just love this place .. wondrful shot
Tom Gomez replied
Than you Elaine …
julie anne gr...
beautiful scenery so different to here
Tom Gomez replied
Thank you so much Julie. It is a nice area, but all of Scotland is green and much of it is stunning …
julie anne gr...
It is green here at the moment but we have had years of drought in nsw
Tom Gomez replied
We saw it on the news, you have really suffered the last few years.
It is difficult for us in Scotland to envisage a drought as we have more water than we know what to do with …