Leadhills

Leadhills is a village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, 5¾ miles WSW of Elvanfoot. Population (1901) 835. Originally known as Waterhead, It is the second highest village in Scotland at an average height of 1,460 feet (450 m) above sea-level, near the source of Glengonnar Water, an affluent of the River Clyde.

Local attractions

The Leadhills Miners' Library, founded in 1741 and also known as the Allan Ramsay Library, or The Leadhills Reading Society, houses an extensive antiquarian book collection, local relics, mining records and minerals. The library is the oldest subscription library in Britain and is of significant historical and geological importance. The library is open from May to September on weekends and bank holidays, between 2pm and 4 pm.

The Grouse Moors cover in excess of 11,000 acres (45 km2) around Leadhills and are considered to be amongst the finest in Scotland.

Leadhills Golf Course is the highest in Scotland. This nine hole course offers considerable challenge as the winds can be high and unpredictable as they are channelled between the hills.

The Grave of John Taylor is also available to visit in the cemetery. Reputed to be 137 years of age at the time of his death, John Taylor's grave (shared with his son, Robert) even attracted the attention of the BBC.

The Scots Mining Company House was built in 1736 for James Stirling, the managing agent of the Scots Mining Company. It is attributed to the architect William Adam, and is now a category A listed building.