Orchardton Tower

Orchardton Tower is the only free-standing round tower house in Scotland and is located on publicly accessible land just outside Dalbeattie. It is maintained by Historic Environment Scotland, and there is parking adjacent. The tower has ruins of a courtyard and outbuildings nearby, and is four storeys tall.

Orchardton was originally part of the lands of “Irisbuitle” held by the Cairns family until the mid 16th century when the male line ended with three heiresses. Margaret, the eldest, and her husband William Kirkpatrick, inherited the tower, and the family retained it until the financial implications of supporting Charles I ruined them. The tower remained their home until about 1765, but the new house that replaced it bankrupted the estate, which was wadset to the Douglases and repossessed. It was never brought back into good repair or use thereafter.

Official Historic Scotland page

HES Canmore database entry