Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Biggar
POP 2098
Biggar is a pleasant town in a rural setting dominated by Tinto Hill (712m). The town has
a number of offbeat museums that give it a quirky appeal. It's also known for the national-
ist, leftist poet Hugh MacDiarmid, who lived near here for nearly 30 years until his death
in 1978.
Sights & Activities
The
Biggar Museum Trust
(
01899-221050;
www.biggarmuseumtrust.co.uk
)
looks
after most of the town's museums. It all relies on the goodwill of volunteers, so opening
hours can be quite variable: it's worth ringing ahead if you've got a special interest in one
of them.
Gladstone Court
(North Back Rd; adult/child £2.50/1.50; 11am-4.30pm Mon-Tue & Thu-Sat, 2-4.30pm
Sun Apr-Oct)
An intriguing indoor street museum with historic Victorian-era nook-and-
cranny shops that you can pop into to steal a glimpse of the past. Don't miss the
old
printing press
and the
Albion A2 Dogcart
, one of the oldest British cars still around.
MUSEUM
Biggar Puppet Theatre
(
01899-220631;
www.purvespuppets.com
; Broughton Rd; seats £8; 11am-4.30pm
Tue-Sat)
A well-loved local institution that runs matinee shows every couple of days
throughout the summer using miniature Victorian puppets and bizarre glow-in-the-dark
modern ones over 1m high. Different shows are suitable for varying age groups, so inquire
before you take along the kids. Check the website for performance times.
THEATRE
Moat Park Heritage Centre
(adult/child £2.50/1.50; 11am-4.30pm Mon-Sat, 2-4.30pm Sun Apr-mid-Oct)
In a ren-
ovated church, the museum covers the history of the area through geological and archae-
ological displays.
MUSEUM
Greenhill Covenanter's House
(adult/child £1.50/70p)
An intelligently reconstructed farmhouse with 17th-century fur-
nishings and artefacts relating to the fascinating story of the local Covenanters, who vali-
MUSEUM
