There’s gold in them thar hills
(But it’ll cost you £10 a day to look for it! )
PROSPECTORS are up in arms after being told they’ll have to pay to pan for gold in the Highlands.
The row broke out after the new owners of a Sutherland estate that saw a 19th century ‘Gold Rush’ introduced £10-a-day charges.
The 16,000-acre Suisgill Estate in Helmsdale was bought in November 2016 by Alexander and Diana Darwall, after going on the market for £5million. Mr Darwall is a fund manager in the City of London.
The couple introduced the charge for gold-panning in the historic Kildonan Burn on January 1 – as well as restrictions saying each gold panner is only allowed to operate for two weeks in any given year.
The estate found fame as the location of the 1868 Scottish Gold Rush after a local discovered the precious metal. Some 600 prospectors flooded the area, in scenes more reminiscent of the Klondike than Kildonan.
It began when Robert Gilchrist, a local man who had made his fortune prospecting in Australia, struck gold in the Suisgill Burn.
But by the end of 1869 it was over, as panning began to be regulated and the returns diminished.
In recent years, however, amateur panners have again become a familiar sight.
The charge has infuriated Colin Stark, 52, a self-employed decorator from Swindon who comes to Helmsdale for six months of the year to pan for gold.
Mr Stark, who has started a petition against the charges, said: ‘I am a recreational gold panner who has panned for gold on the Kildonan Burn for the last four years without any restrictions.
‘But since the Suisgill Estate has been sold, the new owners are wanting to charge £10 per day to pan for gold, whereas before it has always been free of charge. They will only allow two weeks per year per person. I think it is totally outrageous that a land owner can get away with this sort of behaviour. I thought Scotland was a free country, with rights to roam. This is entirely draconian.’
Mrs Darwall said the move was about regulation and not to make money – and that all proceeds from the sale of panning permits will go to Kildonan Church. She added: ‘Panning needs regulating – one or two bad apples are spoiling it for everybody.
‘There have been people selling the gold on eBay – they should not be doing that for a profit. People were taking the mickey.
‘I know it’s only one or two who spoil it, but something had to be done.
‘I don’t want to upset people, I want to make it more enjoyable. Permits will be on sale in the village.’