Wanlockhead: Scotland’s Highest Village Takes Charge of the Future
A community in Scotland’s highest village is coming together to purchase vast swathes of land from a local duke, aiming to transform the wider area into a sustainable tourist destination. This initiative is set to include ski slopes, biking, hiking, nature trails, and music- and art-themed festivals.
Locals in Wanlockhead have been granted permission to purchase 3000 acres of land from a private estate in their village as part of a community land buyout deal. The 83,000-acre Queensberry Estate, owned by Richard Scott, the tenth Duke of Buccleuch, encompasses parts of a popular walking route known as the Southern Upland Way and areas of “natural, historical, and recreational significance,” which the villagers are eager to develop into sustainable tourist sites.
“This is the first big step towards a brighter future for our community. If we can own the land, we can make our own decisions about its use,” said Lincoln Richford, chair of the Wanlockhead Community Trust (WCT) – the group overseeing the purchase of the land. “Today, locals said ‘yes’ to self-empowerment and self-determination. It is a historic day for all of us.”
The WCT now has six months to raise the £1.4 million necessary to complete the buyout after the deal was agreed earlier this month. Moreover, in addition to tourism opportunities, potential projects that the villagers are keen to explore include developing affordable housing for families, environmental restoration, and creating new business opportunities for locals.
“There is so much potential here for us in Wanlockhead. It is very exciting where we can go as a community with this buyout, if we put our minds to it,” said Dominika Torka, a WCT member.
Wanlockhead sits 467 metres above sea level in the scenic Lowther Hills, an area renowned for its skiing opportunities in Dumfries and Galloway. This village is already a popular tourist destination and is home to quirky attractions such as Scotland’s highest pub, the Wanlockhead Inn, and the Museum of Lead Mining.
