Orchardton Tower is a ruined tower house overlooking the Rough Firth near Dalbeattie. It is notable for being Scotland's only circular plan tower house. It is in the care of Historic Scotland as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The tower house was built in the late 1450s by John Cairns. It was probably on the site of an earlier Douglas stronghold.
In 1456 James II of Scotland gave John Cairns the lands around Orchardton for his part in helping to overthrow the 'Black' Earls of Douglas. Cairns had probably assisted in the royal siege of nearby Threave Castle, the seat of Earls of Douglas, in 1455.
Despite Orchardton being the only cylindrical tower house in Scotland its plan isn't entirely unfamiliar. In common with many other tower houses its entrance is at first floor level. The tower tapers towards the top like an Iron Age broch. Its walls are about 3 metres thick with very few openings.
This is a simple drive by cache placed at the side of this lovely quiet rural road beside the public car park for visitors to the Tower. Please note it is not in the dyke across the road.
The cache is a 35mm film canister with log only so please take a pen or pencil. Please replace exactly as you found it.
We are so lucky to have countryside like this. Please respect it.
Happy caching.