Why People Should Try Gold Panning At Least Once In Their Life!

Metal detecting, amateur archeaology and gold panning unusual ways to pass the time but they could also make you rich!

Metal detecting, amateur archaeology and gold panning

Giphy / Via media.giphy.com

The one thing these activities have in common is the ability to make you money whilst having fun. Coins with a value of £10 million were found in Jersey in 2012 and coins found in Stirlingshire in 2009 were worth a cool £1million. In Australia in 2013 a 5kg nugget was found and reportedly worth £200,000 not bad eh.

Gold panning has its own championship.

Giphy / Via media.giphy.com

World gold panning championships have been held since 1974 and there are championships held in countries all over the world including Australia, Austria, America, UK, Italy, Sweden and Spain.

The worlds largest gold nugget was found in Australia.

Via goldprospectingonline.com

Weighing in at a huge 72kg equivalent of the average weight of a cheetah and worth a whopping £4 million in today's money it ended up being cut up and melted down.

Any kind of pan can be used for gold panning.

Giphy / Via media.giphy.com

The act itself is still the same as it has been for centuries, whilst you can buy kits and if entering a competition there are regulations, any pan like that of a frying pan would be enough.

This year the World Gold Panning Championships will be held in Moffat, Scotland.

Via undiscoveredscotland.co.uk

In Scottish Gaelic Am Mafg Fada meaning the long plain, Moffat is a small town with a population of just over 2500. Nestled just off the M74 it is the first walkers town in Scotland.

Moffat holds the world record for having the narrowest pub.

Via lornastearoomdelights.wordpress.com

The Star Hotel, which is mentioned in the Guinness World Records is the world’s narrowest pub at 20ft wide and 162ft long, Moffat also claims to have the narrowest street in Scotland, which just so happens to be opposite the hotel called Syme Street and the shortest street in Scotland, Chapel Street.

Another of Moffat's famous landmarks is the ram.

Via dumfriesshirecompanion.com

The ram was originally known as the Colvin fountain after being gifted to the town by Sir William Colvin in 1875. The ram is missing its ears and its sculptor William Brodie is said to of been shamed in public and committed suicide, some say this is not true and he lived until 1881. It is also rumoured that his gghost haunts one of the hotels as he wonders the corridors looking for the rams ears.

Moffat host the only known town sheep race in Scotland

Giphy / Via media.giphy.com

Knitted jockeys sat atop sheep, starting line up ready to go, all bets placed, this truly is a unique and fun experience for all ages. This year it's held a day after the gold panning championships are over. Why not stick around, place a bet ewe never know, your luck may be in.

The Devil's Beef Tub.....not as badass as it sounds!

Via google.co.uk

This is four hills that sit side by side and form a deep dark gash. Its name derives from the Johnstone clan who were cattle rustlers and used to use the area for hiding cattle. They were known by the local community as 'devils'. At the bottom of these hills is the wreckage of a vehicle, it wound up down there after a lady went over the edge, miraculously the woman survived and climbed out up the hills to safety.