A brief history of gold in Scotland

The first gold mine in Britain was opened at Dolaucothi, in Wales, around 600BC.

In Scotland gold has only been recovered by panning in rivers and streams, mainly in the south of the country, where it has been popular for centuries.

The British Geological Survey first found evidence of gold in the Western Highlands in the 1960s.

In 1984, a gold bearing quartz vein was discovered by an Irish firm, Ennex International, on the slopes of Beinn Chirn.

Ten years later the Caledonian Mining Company acquired the mine, near Tyndrum, with the intention of putting it into production.

However, the venture was abandoned as the world price of gold collapsed and only now are there plans to reopen the mine.