TAs I stop between the Milky Way galaxy and the Andromeda galaxy, the sun warms up my face. I am gazing at the rolling Dumfries & Galloway hills beyond. Surprisingly, I’m not in outer space. I’m in the Crawick MultiverseThe tenth birthday of the cosmos themed land art in the south part of Scotland was celebrated this year.
These galaxies look like huge spirals of earth. Their perimeters reach out to one another, but they never touch.
Gillian Khosla says, “These galaxies slowly move towards each other and will collide at some point,” chair of the Crawick Multiverse Trust. “When this happens, it’ll be the end of our world.” We still have a few billions of years before then.
We walk around the grounds watching as people climb up the mounds. They loop around the spirals until they reach the sandstone rocks on top. Kids chase parents, less interested in cosmological concepts of the art and more so the fact that it doubles up as an obstacle-course.
Caroline McMillan a local farmer, and Crawick Multiverse Trustee, joins us on the walk. “It can be an artsy thing, or it can be a nice place to come for a coffee – or to roll down some hills with your kids.”
The coal mining operation that operated here in the 80s was shut down and abandoned. When the “black gold”, ran out. The land is owned by the Duke of Buccleuch – one of Scotland’s largest landowners. He invited the late Land Artist in 2005. Charles Jencks It is possible to transform it.
Khosla: “It was an empty site.” “Everything that was valuable was removed and nothing was left.” What open-cast coal mining tended to do was take, take, take; and what we’re trying to do here is add – add interest, diversity, nature and add value to the community.”
McMillan grew up in a home that overlooked the majority of the construction site. “It looked grey and boring,” she said. “Now it’s green and there’s a lot more biodiversity – ponds and dragonflies. It’s created a lot of jobs and is a place where people go with their families and friends.
The installation was built with existing materials – sandstone boulders were transformed into planets and black holes. A 400-metre long avenue with hundreds of stones is located in the middle, leading from north to south. amphitheatre The host concerts in summer.
Above all, it is important to remember that the Belvedere viewpoint This site offers 360-degree views of its eclectic 22-hectare (55 acre) site where megaliths pose cosmological puzzles among the farmland, hills and Nith Valley.
McMillan says, “Charles wanted this place to be one that people would visit from around the globe. We are now on our way to achieving his goal.”
On a Saturday morning families climb on rocky comets and run through superclusters. It is a beautiful part of Scotland that gets little attention, even though it’s stunning. The sun shines and the daffodils interrupt the greenery in the early spring. There are some old coal bings visible behind the boundary wall, even though mining ended decades ago.
Continue my artistic journey at A’ the AirtsThe Crawick Multiverse is just a few minutes away from the community art centre in Sanquhar. Andy Williamson is the chairperson of the centre and he hails from the nearby parish of Kirkconnel. He worked in Kirkconnel’s Fauldhead Colliery, the largest in Dumfriesshire at the time, for many years. Many people used to depend on the pits in Sanquhar and Kirkconnel for their livelihood. The closure of mines left a deep impact on the area, which is still felt today.
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Williamson says, “It was a disaster.” Kirkconnel’s population peaked at 5,000 to 6,000 people in its heyday. Now, it’s only 2,000 or so. “The village never recovered.”
A’ the Airts has a busy programme of music, film and poetry – some of it inspired by that mining legacy – as well as workshops on quilting, pottery and the distinctive Sanquhar knitting pattern. Williamson: “I believe that the spirit of community is one of the redeeming characteristics of any mining village.” “That’s relevant here.” Everyone pulls together.” Green shoots emerge from the mined land.
Sanquhar has a beautiful history. The ruin of a castle from the 13th century is located on the edge. It is believed that William Wallace, Scotland’s national heroine, fought against the English here. Robert the Bruce was also said to have been there. Rabbie Burns often stayed in town during the 1780s. Sanquhar also has the oldest post office in the entire world, which was established in 1712.
You can find out more about such Scottish legends at the Sanquhar Tolbooth MuseumThis is located on the high-street in a 18th-century baroque house that also contains old Davy lamp and mining pickaxes.
Sanquhar Castle is now accessible via new paths, and there are also new playparks. Tourism has increased. Lisa Black, of the Sanquhar Enterprise, says that it’s about improving the area for the future. “That’s something.”
I spent a comfortable night at the Nithsdale hotel Before continuing my journey Southern Upland Way – a hiking route running 214 miles, coast-to-coast across the south of Scotland.
Last year, the trail celebrated its 40th anniversary. To mark this milestone, sculpted markers were installed both at the beginning and the end of the trail. three sections The trail is divided into three sections (western, central and eastern).
Sanquhar marks both the end of The Spirit of Galloway segment in the west and the start of The Big Hills section across the middle of Scotland. Wanlockhead is the highest village of Scotland, and the home of the Museum of Lead MiningThe only underground mine in Scotland.
As the sun rises over Nith Valley, I take a steep farm road out of Sanquhar. A dawn chorus of song thrushes (songbirds), blackbirds (robins), and wrens welcomes in the new day. As I travel across the rugged, picturesque moorland and watch the sun slowly rise over the Nith Valley, I see a pair curlews flying overhead.
Crawick Multiverse costs £8.50 For an example, adult day pass, £5 You can also find out more about the following: From five to 16 years old, Free You can also find out more about the following: Undergraduate Students-fives. £25 You can also find out more about the following: Families can be contacted by calling, crawickmultiverse.co.uk. Nithsdale Hotel single rooms from £69From a double room or family room £72, nithsdalehotel.com. Support was provided South of Scotland Destination Alliance. Details about Scotland Starts Here
