Around and about Elvanfoot

Elvanfoot village is pretty rural, but it's easy to get around by car because the A74(M) - the main route between Glasgow and Carlisle - is only a mile away. The Edinburgh to Dumfries bus passes through the village and stops at Biggar, Abington Crawford and Thornhill and a few other places along the way.

The other bus service for Elvanfoot runs from Sanquar to Lanark and travels along one of the most scenic routes in the area. For those who don't know Elvanfoot is between Leadhills and Crawford and the bus will arrive here about 3 minutes before the Crawford stop on the way to Lanark and the opposite applies when travelling from Lanark.

If you live locally then feel free to use these pages to post details of local news and events happening around Elvanfoot and Crawford. If you have any articles, stories, or pictures which you want to be included on this site contact the editor. Any contributions will be considered.

So for those who don't live here or have not even heard of our village we are located just off the M74 near J14 a few miles north of Moffat.

There is not a lot in the village. At one time there was a school, a Post Office, a railway station, and a hotel. So if you want accomodation in Elvanfoot you will need to get friendly with somebody who lives there.

Crawford is 2 miles north of Elvanfoot and has a Post Office & Shop which also sells hot and cold takeaway food, three hotels which, I am told, all do good food and drink, and there is also Bed and Breakfast accommodation. More about that on the Crawford page when it gets done.

We are surrounded by beautiful scenery and there are more than enough hills to keep most walkers happy. The views are well worth the effort.

A few miles south of the village at Overfingland the Southern Upland Way crosses the A702 and continues on past the Daer Reservoir and up Sweetshaw Brae on it's way to Moffat.

For the less energetic or less able there are plenty of strolls on reasonably level ground including a nice walk alongside the River Clyde. And for those who don't need the exercise you can still enjoy the views from the roadside without any exertion.

A drive down the A702 towards Thornhill will lead you through the Dalveen Pass, with it's steeply sloping sides, and along to the A76. Drumlanrig Castle, located just off the A76 is another popular place for visitors and caters well for walkers and cyclists with signposted routes. Take the family there with a picnic and you'll have a great day out. To complete a circular drive head north on the A76 and take a right turn onto the B797 through the dramatic beauty of the Mennock Pass up to Wanlockhead.

Wanlockhead and neighbouring Leadhills are both worth visiting. There is the narrow gauge railway at Wanlockhead, operated by a team of volunteers, which used to run down to Elvanfoot. This is open most weekends throughout the summer months. At Leadhills there is the Lead Mining museum which is interesting for all ages. The walk down into the mine gives you some idea of what conditions were like in years gone by. You can even try your hand at gold panning.

If you have an interest in history three miles to south on the A702 there are the remains of the Bastle Houses at Glenochar. A signposted circular walk guides you round the site and there are boards with explanations of the buildings and how they were used.

Bodsberry Hill, (or Uncle Harry Hill as my children named it due to its lack of growth on top), to the east of the M74 is the site of a Fort. A couple of miles south at Little Clyde there was a Roman Camp. The course of a Roman Road can be followed from Elvanfoot Bridge along the east bank of the Clyde. Continue alongside the river and you will find yourself in Crawford.

At the bridge which carries the B7076 over the Clyde there is a memorial to 37 Irish navvies who died during the construction of the railway in the 1800's.

For more information on this click on the link below to go to the Elvanfoot History page