Wigwam Holidays are really pushing for panners, it seems. Just a few days ago, they posted this series of pictures on
their Facebook page - and might very well cause a little overexcitement among the panners trying their luck in Strathfillan. Well, I did get excited: look at that chunky nugget in the middle!
You can read the whole article
here (I recommend it!). Strathfillan Wigwams manager Rena Baillie is talking about the re-opening of the
Cononish mine and the hopes fo
r new jobs in the area. She goes on to explain the potential of the area for hobby panners: "...some have left us samples in a small bottle for us to show other would be gold prospectors that it's worth a try [...] The biggest nugget of gold found on site was above the waterfall."
I have met Mrs. Baillie (who was really lovely, as well as her husband) and I know what she is talking about. This summer, as well as last year, I have seen some of the souvenirs she received from fellow panners - although none as big. Unfortunately, I cannot yet afford to give away presents like the chunkies shown above. One day, maybe... I am curious to see if this picture stirs up a new mini gold-rush in the area. Already, as Mrs. Baillie claims, a third of the visitors to Strathfillan Wigwams are panners who want to try their luck in the surrounding hills. I wouldn't be surprised if a few more jumped on the bandwaggon now.
On a more critical sidenote: If the gold shown is indeed from the wigwam-river, that's great, but I wonder if the long-established panners in the area agree with such open promotion and the public revelation of the finding-spot...?
Source: http://www.wigwamholidays.com/wigwam_news/30*edit* Turns out that, apparently, the gold is indeed from the region, but not the wigwam burn - and it probably took quite some time and energy to get such a great reward. Phew. I was already kicking my ass for missing these chunkies... ;) It does put it into perspective. Yes, it is possible to find bigger stuff - but it is hard, hard work and certainly not all found in just a day or two. Does motivate me though!
Before I proudly show you my humble findings from my own goldpanning adventures in Scotland, I thought I'd chuck in a few pictures I took at the Natural History Museum in London. Disappointingly, they didn't have any British gold on display, but you have to give them credit for the collection of samples from all around the globe. Pretty impressive stuff indeed. Click to see a bigger view of the photos!
