Dalmellington (Gaelic: Dael Meallain Tuinn) is a market town in Ayrshire, Scotland. In 2001 it had a population of 1407.[1] The town owes its origins to the fault line separating the Southern Uplands of Scotland from the Central Lowlands. Dalmellington sits at the issue of a river from the uplands into Dalmellington Moss plain.
The town has a history as a rest area, market town, weaving centre and mining village. There is a large open cast coal mine in the area, and the branch line railway from Ayr that once served the town for passenger traffic is now busy with long coal trains. Robert Hetrick the blacksmith-poet lived in the town in the 19th century. Dalmellington Silver Band[1] is a successful music association, winning many prizes in traditional music competition. The town has a working museum to record the history of the area.
There are many Sites of Special Scientific Interest located around Dalmellington, the most notable being the nearby Loch Doon. Selection of local views [2]
Dalmellington Craigengillan Curling Club is the oldest constituted club in Dalmellington; it was formed on the 3rd of December 1841 in the Black Bull Hotel and has continued unbroken since. In 2004 the members reinstated the outside curling pond at Craigengillan, this is the only self leveling curling pond in Scotland.