Dunsyre

Dunsyre
Dunsyre is located in South Lanarkshire
Dunsyre
Dunsyre
Location within South Lanarkshire
OS grid referenceNT073481
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLANARK
Postcode districtML11
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
55°43′05″N 3°28′40″W / 55.71806°N 3.47778°W / 55.71806; -3.47778

Dunsyre (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Saghair) is a village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is 10 kilometres (6 miles) from Carnwath. Dunsyre is associated with an ancient barony and parish church. The name of Dunsyre is of Celtic origin and is supposed to signify the "Hill of the Seer." [dubious – discuss] It is located by the burn known as the South Medwin Water.

From 1867 until 1945 Dunsyre was served by a railway branch from Carstairs to Dolphinton, originally built by the Caledonian Railway, and the disused embankment of this runs along the south side of the village close to the church.[1]

The surface is generally elevated, and rises further still into the surrounding hills. Dunsyre Hill overlooks the area from the north and Blackmount from the south. Dunsyre Hill forms the termination of the Pentland Hills, a range extending for nearly 32 km (20 mi) from the immediate vicinity of Edinburgh. This hill has an elevation of 150 metres (500 ft) above the general surface of the lands, and of 401 metres (1,315 ft) above sea level; a small range of gradually diminishing hills branches off towards the west from it, stretching to the parish of Carnwath. Between the Dunsyre and Walston ranges is a level valley about 5 km (3 mi) in length and 1.6 km (1 mi) wide. The small river of the South Medwin runs along the valley, eventually joining the river Clyde. The ornamental garden Little Sparta lies immediately to the west of the village.

  • Black Mount Black Mount (516 m or 1,693 ft) looking over Dunsyre and the South Medwin Valley
    Black Mount
    Black Mount (516 m or 1,693 ft) looking over Dunsyre and the South Medwin Valley
  • Westhall Tower The remains of the 16th-century tower at Westhall Farm, Dunsyre. Originally built in the Peel tower style.
    Westhall Tower
    The remains of the 16th-century tower at Westhall Farm, Dunsyre. Originally built in the Peel tower style.
  1. ^ Railway Passenger Stations of England, Scotland and Wales: A Chronology; M.E. Quick; Railway & Canal Historical Society, Richmond, Surrey; 2005.