Wanlockhead is a village in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, nestling in the Lowther Hills and 1 mile (2 kilometres) south of Leadhills at the head of the Mennock Pass, which forms part of the Southern Uplands.

[4][5] Wanlockhead takes its name from the Wanlock Water, a stream which rises in the remote hollow which forms the setting of the village.

The village was founded permanently in 1680 when the Duke of Buccleuch built a lead smelting plant and workers' cottages.

[6] Lead, zinc, copper and silver were mined nearby, as well as some of the world's purest gold at 22.8 carats, which was used to make the Scottish Crown.

Early gold miners included Cornelius de Vos, George Bowes, and Bevis Bulmer.

[7] From 1850 the Glasgow and South Western Railway had provided sidings at Mennock Lye Goods Depot for the use of the Wanlockhead and Leadhills mines.

They had to wait their turn and took shelter at Ramage's Inn, where Burns wrote a poem entitled Pegasus at Wanlockhead.

They went a considerable distance into the mines, braving the dark, wet and cramped conditions at first; however they had to turn back as Burns found the poor air very distressing.

The village now features a lead mining museum and industrial equipment from the 18th century and is a popular tourist destination.

The library was essential in facilitating a level of educational achievement that allowed some miners and their children to escape the toil of mine work.

Periodically the weight of the piston was adjusted so that it remained heavier than the empty bucket, ensuring that the beam fell to start the cycle again.

Since the 1920s skiing in the Wanlockhead area has been organised intermittently by a succession of local residents as well as several non-for-profit sports clubs.