In May, Bob and I joined Ann and Jenny from Yorkshire OUGS to go gold panning

The sun is shining on the "Taste of Tartan" shop and Moffat High Street Looking at the local building stones
Early Saturday morning - before the rain! Red sandstone and greywacke were the main building stones
Here we are, at the back of beyond - already gazumped by a Conway Cruiser Looking for the best places to pan
Off to find a suitable stream Climbing up beside the burn in Mennock Pass
Ann teaches me the correct technique Do I need glasses, a magnifying glass - or a microscope?
Is there anything glinting in the bottom? Nothing yet -
Pam, Ann and Jenny Lovely colour combination!
You can see that panners are stylish dressers! Will this spot be any better?
High tailing it back to Moffat It was lovely food, but maybe three courses was a bit ambitious!
Then down came the rain - Warm and dry for dinner at the Black Bull
How heavy is this lump of lead? Dark and wet - just the same as outside -
Sunday we went round the museum Down the Lochnell lead mine
Walking down to the spoil heap More sheep than people?
A momentary lapse in the rain Some local inhabitants wandering along the trail
Dashing back to the car in the pouring rain Selection of minerals from Wanlockhead
This stream, Jenny actually found a flake Leaking wellies made up for by minerals!
Monday morning - what's wrong, the sun is shining? Cutting on the way to Elvanfoot
The Black Bull, Moffat - built 1568 Stopped on the way to look at rocks
Swollen streams Our little stream from day one is now a torrent
A lot of new streams had developed overnight Compare this with the photo at the top of the page - two days rain!
One last try - still nothing! Last look at the hills before heading home
Ann demonstrates another technique

(Moffat June 2005 trip)         (Moffat June 2007)

 Goodbye, Leadhills and Wanlockhead - although the only gold I have was bought in the museum shop! (Back to geology page)

Home