Go to the Main Scottish Cave and Mine Database Search PageMap with: Google Map, or OS Explorer Map from Streetmap.co.uk
Straitsteps Mine (Engine Shaft) Straitsteps Mine [Lower Adit] Straitsteps Mine (Little's Engine Shaft) String Shaft / Deep Shaft Lochnell Mine (Dod Level) Weir's Vein [Shaft] Straitsteps Mine (High Level) Straitstep Vein [Adit] Lochnell Mine [Shaft] High Drift [Adit] Burn Shaft [Wanlock Water] Old Glencrieff Mine [Shaft] (II) Lochnell Mine (Williamsons Level) Old Glencrieff Mine [Shaft] Ramage's Shaft Low Inset [Wanlockhead] Old Glencrieff Mine (Shankiland's Shaft) Old Glencrieff Mine (High Drift) Wanlock Dod [Adit] Laird's Shaft Old Glencrieff (Shafts) Old Waygate Shaft Old Glencrieff [Crosscut] Cove Vein [Wanlock Dod Trial] Mennockhass Water Tunnel [Mouth] Wanlockhead [Overview] Old Glencrieff [Crosscut] (II) Old Glencrieff [Pates Knowe] Old Glencrieff [Crosscut] (III) New Glencrieff Mine [Glencrieff Cottage] New Glencrieff Mine (Adit Level) New Glencrieff Mine (Shaft) [II] Dod Water Crosscut Wanlock Dod [NW Adit] Glencrieff [Crosscut] Cocks Shaft Crawford's Vein [Cam Sheugh] Black's Drift New Glencrieff Mine (Horse Level) New Glencrieff Mine (Lorimers Shaft) Cove Engine Shaft Cove Vein [Rushy Sike Level]
Go to the Main Scottish Cave and Mine Database Search Page
Wanlockhead, Dumfriesshire.
| NGR: | NS 87060 13160 |
| WGS84: | 55.39934, -3.78491 |
| Length: | 80 m |
| Vert. Range: | Not recorded |
| Altitude: | Not recorded |
| Geology: | Portpatrick Formation - wacke |
| Tags: | Adit, Trial, Lost |
| Registry: | second |
Trial adit (Lead), probably early 18th c.
Mine plan (SP1751) shows mouth of c. 250ft-long trial, situated c. 200ft [60m] NW of the village church. Mouth in hillside behind buildings probably now blocked (no opening visible).
"The Highlandman's Vein (Abandoned)... This vein lies about 30 fms. east of Straitstep Vein, and was opened up by the Smelting Company, who drove a level along it for a short distance into the Dod Hill, but so far as is known no ore was met with." [Wilson, 1921]
"The Highlandman's Vein lies about 30 fathoms east of Straitstep, was opened up by the Smelting Company, and prosecuted only a few fathoms on the south-side of the Dodhill." [History of Sanquhar]
Alternative Names: Rough Brae Crosscut
Notes: Wells' 1756 map describes a site here as: "Old crosscut for Rough Brae Vein, now opened up by Messrs Crawfurds & Company" (W on key). 'Rough Brae' possibly old alternative name for Highlandman's.
Given coordinates & length approx., based on mine plan. Association with Highlandman's Vein is tentative, but best fits the combination of Wilson (1921) & veins marked on BGS map.
Links and Resources:
This entry was last updated: 2026-04-06 11:40:54
Errors or omissions in this information? Submit corrections/additions/comments for this entry to the registrars.
All database content Copyright 2026 Grampian Speleological Group.
Web Registry software by Matt Voysey.