Sorn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sorn
Sorn from the air
OS grid reference	NS548223
Council area	East Ayrshire
Lieutenancy area	Ayrshire
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Police	Strathclyde
Fire	Strathclyde
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
Scottish Parliament	Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
List of places UK Scotland

1950s council housing in Sorn; the brown building in the centre rear with the cream tower is the primary school

Sorn (Scottish Gaelic: Sorn, meaning a kiln) is a small village in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It is situated on the River Ayr. It has a population of roughly 350. Its neighbouring village is Catrine. Sorn Castle lies just outside the village.

Catrine and Sorn from the air

History

Sorn was a parish in Ayrshire. One gazetteer states "It is bounded on the north by Galston; on the east by Muirkirk; on the south by Auchinleck; and on the west by Mauchline." Another states that Sorn did not exist until 1658 when it was disjoined from the parish of Mauchline.

Sorn has a Covenanter history.

Sorn Today

Local services include: a pub, a cafe, a church, a general store (closed 2019), a motorbike shop and a television shop. There is also a village hall and a bowling green and primary school. In November 2007 the school was threatened with closure by East Ayrshire Council.

Sorn is known for its success in the Britain in Bloom competition. In 2004 it won gold in the "Small Villages" category and has previously won, amongst other awards, the "Highly Commended Certificate" a number of times in the 1980s. Sorn is also the first village in Scotland where all parking is off-road parking.

Sorn is situated on the River Ayr Way which opened in 2006 as Scotland's first source to sea long-distance path.