Visiting Sorbie Tower

How to Get There, Where to Stay and What to See

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Visiting the Tower FAQ

Sorbie is located in Dumfries and Galloway, southwestern Scotland. The nearest sizeable town is Newton Stewart.

Here are some helpful links:

The nearest airports to Sorbie and Newton Stewart are Prestwick and Glasgow.

Newton Stewart is reached by one of three main roads:

  • From the North (Glasgow): Take the A77 South to Girvan, then take the A714 South to Newton Stewart.
  • From the West (Stranraer/ferry from Belfast): Take the A75 East to Newton Stewart.
  • From the East (Dumfries): Take the A75 West to Newton Stewart.

If you have access to a GPS unit, or can print out a map from a computer, that will be very helpful. Here are some helpful links:

The nearest sizeable town is Newton Stewart.  The best bet is to get yourself there first.  Once you’re in Newton Stewart:

  1. Head south on the A714 to Wigtown.
  2. From there drive on the A746 to Sorbie village.
  3. Then drive east on B7052, which is a secondary road (about one-and-a-half times the width of a car—see What should I know about driving?).

Traveling eastward from Sorbie to Garlieston, the entrance to the tower is located on the left hand side of the road, at the first major curve you encounter (the road veers to the left, then curves to the right).

If you have access to a GPS unit, or can print out a map from a computer, that will be very helpful. Here are some helpful links:

  • Car Rental– If you are a driver and are comfortable with stick-shift and left-side driving, this is by far the easiest way to get around. Glasgow Airport has most major  car rental agencies.  Prestwick Airport has more limited options.
  • Bus– Bus service in this area of Scotland is provided by StageCoach UK. Check their website for latest times and itineraries. Buses from Newton Stewart pass through most towns in the immediate area and drivers will drop off and pick up at Sorbie Tower road end. If you are taking public transit, at least triple the drive time as estimated by online maps, in addition to understanding that service in this region is infrequent.
  • Taxi– McLean’s Taxis offers service out of Newton Stewart. Another option is Mary’s Taxi. Note that these are small, independent businesses with a very limited fleet, so scheduling in advance is a must.
  • Train – The nearest train station is Stranraer.  Once arriving there, you will need to find a taxi or take a bus (see StageCoach UK) to Newton Stewart (25 miles) or Sorbie (32 miles).

Give yourself between two–and–a–half and three hours to get from Glasgow or the main airport to Newton Stewart. Prestwick Airport is perhaps 30 minutes less. Sorbie is an additional half hour south of Newton Stewart by car.

Don’t let the short distances fool you, as roads are narrow, often with only moderate speeds possible, and tend to pass through small villages.

  • If you are used to North American highways, double your time estimate for driving distances and then add a little more.
  • If you are used to these roads, you might shave some time off the above estimates.
  • If you are taking public transit, at least triple the time you might expect. Remember also that service in this region is infrequent.

The roads can be quite narrow. If you encounter another vehicle on a narrow road, especially a tractor, you may have to back up to the nearest place to pull to the side; pull-overs are sometimes provided every so often, but it may be a ways behind you. As you drive, get used to noticing where these are.

You will often need to pull over as far as possible: really hug those hedges! In some situations, you might want to fold in your side mirror(s), just in case. It’s tight!

Also, in case you didn’t know, we drive on the left here. If this is new to you, it takes some getting used to, but just remember “left turn tight, far turn right” (or some variation) and that might help [Adam’s trick].

Winter: Generally mild, cold and damp in winter with little or no snow.

May to September: Area benefits from the gulf stream. Warm and dry. Can be showery due to the proximity of the Galloway Hills.

Or just check the weather right now.

Free WiFi can be found at most of the cafe and bars in Whithorn, Wigtown, Garlieston and Newton Stewart. You can also ask at hotels and such.

There is little to no mobile/cell signal at the Tower.