Gold in those Scottish hills!

Panning for gold is on the agenda in Scotland again, it seems. An Australian company has been selling shares to folk who are willing to open their sporrans in order to fund this enterprise. Back in 1818, of course, a nugget of gold was found in the Helmsdale River, and by 1869, there were around 600 prospectors in Strath Kildonan, based in Baile an Or (Village of Gold) and Carn na Buth (Cairn or Hill of the Tents). Numbers dwindled when the Duke started charging £1 per month for licences, plus a Royalty of 10% on all (declared) gold found. Diminishing levels of finds, plus the fact that the herring season was starting in August, meant that the number had dwindled to about 50 in the autumn. When the Duke realized that his coffers would get richer by fleecing those who came to his estate for fishing and shooting, he banned all prospecting as from 1st January 1870. You can carry out some recreational panning for the stuff nowadays free of charge, although you have to adhere to some strict rules. You'll find a note at the end of the rules stating that panning may be applied for in writing by anyone over 70, accompanied by a named female companion. Presumably, she cannot wait to hit the High Street to get her ring.

Now, to this present day venture by the Australians, and anyone else with some spare moolah. It seems that Scottish gold could be worth 5 times more than the rubbish to be obtained elsewhere. This is partly because it's easier to work, and partly because it's scarcer. Here we have the downside. Gold in Scotland is verry, verry rerr, as we say here. You probably have a better chance of sunbathing with Nessie or having a moonlit cuddle with the Yeti, than you have of finding the yellow stuff. Talking of the Yeti, I once thought that I'd come into contact with its Scottish counterpart in the hills above Loch Ness, but it turned out to be one of Lord Burton's gamekeepers. The bottle of Grouse in my pocket could have had something to do with it, but I blame the mist myself. 

Now, if any of you feel in the mood to do some prospecting, take some baked beans with you--at least, the pan will come in handy at the end of the day.