Penpont

Penpont is a small village in the region of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, two miles west of Thornhill.

It is situated near the confluence of the Shinnel Water and Scaur Water rivers in the foothills of the Southern Uplands, and has a population of roughly 400 people. The name is believed to mean "high bridge", although whether this is from a Celtic or French root is unclear.

Penpont is notable as the birthplace of Joseph Thomson, the geologist and explorer after whom Thomson's Gazelle is named. The sculptor Andy Goldsworthy lives in the village for many years and retains a workshop there. Many of his works can be found in the surrounding countryside, including a pinecone-shaped sculpture at Stepends Farm made to celebrate the year 2000.

The parish church was built in 1867 in big-buttressed Gothic style. It contains a communion table in Art Nouveau style dating from 1923.

There are several sites of archaeological interest nearby, including Bronze Age forts on the hills Tynron Doon and Grennan Hill and a long cairn at Capenoch Loch dating from the 2nd or 3rd century.

The village of Penpont holds a week long festival known to the locals as the "Penpont Gala" every year, commencing the first week of July.