Throughout history gold has been found in several locations in Scotland ~ (It is located right through Britain on a line approximately 4 degrees west of longitude) and one of the main places known for panning it is Leadhills in South West Scotland.
The Scottish Crown Jewels have always been made with gold from Leadhills. To keep this historical tradition alive in 1999 HM Queen Elizabeth presented a silver mace with gold embellishment to the new Scottish Parliament, as a symbol of its authority. For this unique occasion the gold was panned by local men from burns around Leadhills.
Instruction courses take place in the burns and waters that run from the Lowther Hills. The gold found will have lain untouched and unseen since time began! Panners have been finding gold here since the sixteenth century and your day will introduce you to the skills that they used.
This is real gold panning!!
Contact The Museum of Leadmining and they will arrange everything for you to come and learn this ancient skill. The thrill of being the next person to "find the big one" keeps people returning again and again.
Whilst we cannot guarantee you will return home with your fortune made, our skilled instructors will provide you with the means of finding enough gold to plant those seeds of enthusiasm!
You will experience what drove men to leave all behind and join the Great Gold Rushes of America, Australia and South Africa!
Some panners have had the gold they found incorporated into items of jewelry and, romantically, a pair of wedding rings.
Courses usually are between April - September.
For further details.
miningmuseum@hotmail.com