14-05-2025
'Unique' 15th century circular tower reopens to visitors
It operated as a fortified residence for a nobleman named John Cairns, who is thought to have built the structure in around 1455 and may have acquired the land after James II's overthrow of the Douglases.
Circular towers, or donjons, such as this were integral to 1200s strongholds like Bothwell Castle or Dirleton Castle, but they were replaced by square and rectangular tower houses. At Orchardton, Cairns built himself a round tower 200 years after they'd gone out of fashion.
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Rosie Thorp, District Visitor and Community Manager for Dumfries and Galloway at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), said: 'We're thrilled to be welcoming visitors back to Orchardton Tower, where they can delve into the history of late medieval noble life.
"Nestled in a beautiful part of the Dumfries and Galloway landscape, and the only surviving near free-standing late medieval circular tower in the country, this is a truly one-of-a-kind part of our built heritage and an asset in telling Scotland's story.'
The High-Level Masonry Programme is the result of ongoing risk assessment and sample surveys and assesses the impact of climate change on sites as well as the scale of deterioration caused by a number of other factors, including the materials used in the building's construction, its age and physical location. Whilst this is not an issue unique to Scotland, HES is believed to be amongst the first heritage managers to approach it in this way, with the results shared with peer organisations.
From April 1 until September 30, Orchardton tower is open every day from 9:30am to 6:30pm. From October 1 to March 31, the site is open Saturday to Wednesday (closed Thursday and Friday) from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Entry to the site is free of charge.
