Robgill Tower

Robgill Tower is a three-story defensive tower with red stone dressings and a crenellated top, sitting on a steep cliff above a tall buttressed wall. Today it includes six main rooms, an indoor pool, games room, gym, indoor riding arena, and a separate two-bedroom lodge by the gate.

Built around 1540, the tower served as a defensive stronghold along the Scottish-English border. The Clan Irvine held it for centuries, showing its strategic importance to this powerful family.

The name combines an Old English personal name with an Old Norse word, reflecting how different peoples shaped this region over time. This naming reveals the mixed cultural roots of the Scottish-English borderlands.

The tower sits on a steep slope and is reached by a private drive that requires planning ahead. The grounds are extensive and take time to explore all the buildings and features.

The tower features a rounded covered passage leading to the courtyard, supported by buttresses, showing careful defensive design. An interesting detail is a dummy gun loop built into the wall, reflecting the careful thought given to its defensive appearance.

Location: Dumfries and Galloway

Location: Dornock

GPS coordinates: 55.03350,-3.17820

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:21