Scenically, it should be in the Highlands. Tucked in a deep valley among high, heather-covered hills with sheep wandering through its little winding lanes, Wanlockhead is, after all, at 1531 ft. the highest village in Scotland! Yet for this little slice of the Highlands you can save yourself about a 300 mile round trip, for it also lies just 7 miles from the main A74(M) Scotland-England trunk road at Abington, less than an hour's drive south of Glasgow and scarcely more from Edinburgh.
Wanlockhead is quite unique. Once a thriving lead mining centre, it is steeped in history, and it is here that you will find Wanlock Edge Cottage, a delightful little terraced property, once a miner's home, for which the words cosy and inviting might have been coined. Situated right at the end of the village on a quiet road which peters out at a farm further along the hillside, it has amazing views over the valley and the old workings on the opposite hill. (The slag heap is a listed monument, so no complaints please!) There are two pretty upstairs bedrooms (open tread stairs, so care required with toddlers), and a twin bedroom downstairs. The living accommodation is spacious - the sitting room has an open fire, and there is a separate dining room alongside the imaginatively designed, well-equipped kitchen.
The back door opens straight on to the hillside, and there is a little paved area (furniture) which catches the morning sun for al fresco breakfasts. There is ample off-road parking in front of the cottage.
The village is itself reminiscent of Highland crofting communities, with cottages scattered higgledy-piggledy around the hillsides. The famous Lead Mining Museum is a must-see; visitors can descend one of the shafts, and can also visit old miners' cottages which have been preserved in their original state. The Museum has a café and tea room serving light meals during the summer. There is a pub just along the road from the cottage. Apart from lead, the area is also famous for its other geological deposits, notably gold. The National Gold Panning Championships are held here each year, and children (and adults!) can spend many happy hours panning in the streams for their own lucky strike.
One of the other reasons that walkers will flock to Wanlock Edge is that you can step right out of the cottage onto the Southern Upland Way. What's more, you are right in the middle so you can walk along it all day in either direction. There are also many other excellent walks all around the cottage in the Lowther Hills. Cyclists too will find plenty of tracks to tempt them. Fishing is available locally - details from the shop in nearby Leadhills (1½m), which also has a golf course, shop and hotel serving bar meals. A further attraction is the narrow gauge railway which runs between the two villages in summer.
For more serious shopping, the pretty town of Biggar (all facilities) is less than half an hour away, and in the other direction Sanquhar, with the oldest Post Office in Britain, is on the rail network (bus links to the village). Burns Country and the Ayrshire coast, Dumfries and Galloway are all within easy driving distance.
Warmth in all weather is assured by the oil-fired central heating (INCLUDED) and open fire (starter pack of fuel INCLUDED). The first £15 of electricity is INCLUDED. Bed linen is INCLUDED and towels may be hired. A cot is available for hire. One well-behaved pet is welcome by arrangement, under strict control ('ware sheep!). Sorry, no smokers.
