I am looking for ground transportation between Edinburgh and Leadhills and then one day later from Leadhills to Glasgow. I know that we can make the journey using a train to Abington and bus to Leadhills but I am searching for alternate ideas that will allow more flexibility on schedule.
Thanks!
Abington station is long since closed, decades ago.
I assume you have got that from the infamous rome2rio.
There really is limited flexibility on the schedules because the pretty sketchy bus services only run from Lanark now (Stuarts 30 and 31).
Time was when services came over from the Dumfries side but those are long gone.
To get to Lanark you would need to go via Glasgow.
From Edinburgh I would use the not very frequent 100 to 102 group of bus services to Abington M74 services or to Abington Village, to connect into the 30/31. Those routes have just changed operator from Stagecoach to Houstons of Lockerbie, a few weeks ago- here is the timetable.
If you find yourself at Abington services between buses get a Harry Ramsdens Fish and Chips, as there is nothing much in Abington.
make sure you don't get a train to Abingdon in Oxfordshire by mistake
I am scratching my head here because this is such a remote area.
Bluntly I would not advise a non driver to go to Leadhills and Wanlockhead, and I don't often say that.
The best plan I can come up with is to take the 100-102 bus service to Biggar as that is a good service, and it is a very interesting town to explore afterwards.
From there I would take a pre booked taxi the last 20 miles or so to Leadhills.
Reading facebook I am less than totally convinced that they still exist so also try Big Red Taxis, based in the nearby village of Coulter.
That plan, although not cheap, has the merit of flexibility.
make sure you don't get a train to Abingdon in Oxfordshire by mistake
I don't remember Abingdon (Oxon) having a station either, since 1963 or 1984 depending on what you count as a passenger train.
Thanks for the ideas. Please keep them coming. Leadhills is the birthplace of my Grandfather who emigrated to the states in 1923. I know that the house he lived in still stands so I plan on seeing that as well as the library, school, and graveyard. I am willing to spend money for transportation flexibility but I have yet to figure out how to do that.
Since visiting there is a high priority for you with the ancestry connection, keep at it and I'm sure you'll find a way. You might make a few phone calls to a hotel, a pub, or even a public library in Leadhills or the nearest town you can find. People who live there should be able to help you find a way to work it out that will suit your timing and your pocketbook.
I found this recent article about an initiative to bring more tourism to the area! https://www.southlanarkshireview.scot/news/article/1694/Tourism_strategy_set_to_bring_more_visitors_to_the_area
The hotel at Leadhills is the Hopetoun Arms- According to their website they run a shuttle service (not sure where from but worth asking).
It maybe worth spending the night there, then you have time to soak in the village. If they can shuttle you to Abington services, then you can use the hourly coach X74 from Glasgow to the services (it runs on to Dumfries)- starting with the frequent train to Glasgow from Edinburgh.
That might give you your flexibility, and some quality time there.
I have now traced the bus from the other side, which ends at Wanlockhead (the next village)- it runs from Sanquhar, which has a station on the Glasgow to Dumfries railway.- https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/media/26478/221-Wanlockhead-Kirkconnel-Sanquhar-from-8th-August-2022/pdf/221_Wanlockhead_to_Kirkconnel.pdf?m=637951182260630000.
I think that has solved the problem, if the hotel can shuttle you- or that even lets you use the bus from Abington if you prefer
It would also be useful for you to visit the Wanlockhead Mining Museum (the next village) open Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 3pm.
So if the hotel could shuttle you there (or use the 30/31 bus), you could visit the Museum, then catch the bus down to Sanquhar, visit the Toll Booth Museum at Sanquhar (free, a very interesting place) then train to Glasgow. That way you have got the most possible benefit from your trip "home", understood as much as you can about their life up there.
It would be nice for you to use the Leadhills Wanlockhead Railway (the miners railway) but they open on Sunday only, so that might be asking too much.
In Summary from Edinburgh, if you catch the 0925 bus you get to Leadhills at 1249 after a 1 hour 18 minute connection at Abington services- time for lunch: or leave EDI at 1320, arrive Leadhills at 1522 after a 6 minute connection. I have recent experience on that bus route and think that is excessively tight. So use the morning bus.
Then to Sanquhar the 0910 bus to Wanlockhead, then the 1146 or 1416 to Sanquhar for the Museum, then there are trains at 1319, 1519 or 1719 to Glasgow, just buy at the machine at the station or on the train, no advance fares.
Hope this is all helpful. A bit of thought has gone into this, from someone who knows the area and how connections work. I like a challenge.
At Leadhills the bus stops at the Hopetoun Arms.
