Old Thornhill

The village of Thornhill has had a connection spanning three centuries with the Dukes of Buccleuch and Queensberry and was towards the end of the 18th century a key staging post on the coach route between Dumfries and Glasgow via Kilmarnock. The surrounding villages can boast some famous sons, Kirkpatrick MacMillan of Keir Mill invented the worlds first pedal-driven bicycle and Joseph Thomson of Penpoint was the famous African explorer for whom Thomsons Gazelle was named. Although no longer a hub of transport activity, the Dalveen Pass and the Southern Upland Way now attracts walker from far afield to this corner of Mid-Nithsdale.