Penpont

The village of Penpont in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland lies in the foothills of the Southern Uplands and is well known as the birthplace of Joseph Thomson, the geologist and explorer after whom ‘Thomson's Gazelle’ is named. This best-known gazelle is sometimes referred to as a ‘tommie’ because of the association. Penpont was also the birthplace of the sculptor Andy Goldsworthy whose works can be found in the surrounding countryside, including a pinecone-shaped sculpture at Stepends Farm that was created to celebrate the millenium. The village is amidst beautiful, unspoilt countryside where diverse flora, fauna and wildlife are abundant. Nearby is the confluence of the Shinnel Water and Scaur Water, a popular area with walkers, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Penpont is a small village with some amenities but is within easy reach of further developed towns for additional choices of shops, eateries and pubs. The area and village are rich with history, including; the 19^th century parish church built in big-buttressed Gothic style and the several sites of archaeological interest nearby. There are Bronze Age forts on the hills Tynron Doon and Grennan Hill as well as a long cairn at Capenoch Loch.