Things to See and Do

Sanquhar Castle, now a ruin, was built by the crichton family in the 13th century. Situated on the southern approach to the former Royal Burgh of Sanquhar in Dumfries and Galloway, South West Scotland, it sits on the trail of the southern upland way, and is passed by hundreds of visitors who walk through the grounds each year. The castle is a stronghold bounded on the west by the river nith, to the north by a burn, and made strong by a deep ditch running the remainder of the boundary. It was visited by many notable figures including Robert the Bruce, William Wallace, Edward i, Mary Queen of Scots, and James vi

Sanquhar post office has been operating continuously since 1712, eight years longer than its closest rival, in the swedish capital Stockholm. The third oldest, in Santiago, Chile, opened a full 60 years after the office in Sanquhar. The Sanquhar post office had long been accepted as the oldest in Britain and was thought to date from 1763, but research carried out around 15 years ago by postal historian James Mackay revealed it has been operating since 1712 - making it the oldest in the world

Southern upland way is a 212 miles (341 km) coast to coast walk in Scotland between Portpatrick in the west and Cockburnspath in the east. Opened in 1984. The path visits castle Kennedy, New Luce, Bargrennan, St John's town of Dalry, Sanquhar, Wanlockhead, Beattock, St Mary's Loch, Traquair, Galashiels, Lauder and Longformacus en route

Drumlanrig Castle is a large country house near to Thornhill in Dumfries and Galloway in south-west Scotland. It is owned by the duke of Buccleuch. Despite its name it is actually a baroque country house, and had no military function, although two earlier defensive castles had stood on the site. It was built between 1684 and 1691 for the 1st duke of Queensberry.

The Museum of Scottish Lead Mining

The Museum of Scottish Lead Mining, based in Wanlockhead, is open from easter to september and offers a fascinating insight into the hard lives endured by the villagers of the past. Visitors can go underground on a guided tour of Lochnell Mine. A beam engine in the village, used to extract water from the mine workings is the last surviving example of its kind in Britain