Sorbie Tower

Sorbie Tower is a three-story L-shaped stone structure with a corner turret in Dumfries and Galloway, built from the mid-1500s onward. The building contains vaulted ground floor spaces and upper-level rooms arranged to maximize both defense and domestic comfort.

The tower was built in the mid-1500s and served as the ancestral home of Clan Hannay for over a century. The change of ownership to the Earl of Galloway in 1677 ended the family's control of the property.

The tower showcases Scottish domestic life of its era through its vaulted spaces and room layout, which reveal how a wealthy family organized their household across multiple floors. The arrangement of kitchen and main living areas shows the priorities of daily life in the 1500s.

The tower is accessible from the outside year-round and stands near the B7052 road between Garlieston and Sorbie village. Visitors can easily view the exterior structure without needing special arrangements or equipment.

The stair turret in the corner angle contains a carved stone corbel shaped like a human head. This unusual sculptural detail is an artistic touch that many visitors miss when viewing the tower.

Location: Dumfries and Galloway

Location: Sorbie

Website: https://clanhannay.org/sorbie-tower

GPS coordinates: 54.79410,-4.41109

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:48