SOAY, islet near mouth of Loch Inver, west coast of Sutherland.
SOAY, small island near soutn end of lona, Argyleshire.
SOAY, two islets, Little and Meikle, in mouth of W. Loch Tarbert, Outer Hebrides.
SOCCACHMAAM, lofty mountain in Kintail parish, Ross-shire.
SOCCOCH, lofty hills on mutual border of Leochel and Towie parishes, Aberdeenshire.
SOLEBURN, bay in Loch Ryan, 3 miles north of Stranraer, Wigtonshire.
SOLLAS, place, with post office under Lochmaddy, Outer Hebrides.
SOLWAY, firth, entered at its head by rivers Sark, Esk, and Eden, and extending westward and south-westward, between Scotland and England, to the Irish Sea. Its length is about 33 miles ; its breadth, over the first 12 miles, averages about 2 miles, and afterwards increases to about 19 ; and its coast, on the Scottish side, is modified by entrance of rivers Annan, Nith, Urr, and Dee. Its tidal ebb leaves all its upper reaches, except the ruts of streams, so bare as to be a sheer sandy expanse ; and its tidal flow begins with a breast of waters from 3 to 6 feet high, and runs, in spring tides, at the rate of from 8 to 10 miles per hour. An earldom of Solway was created in favour of a branch of the Douglas family in 1706, merged into the dukedom of Queensberry in 1711, and became extinct in 1778.
SOLWAY BANK, seat in Half-Morton parish, Dumfriesshire.
SOLWAY JUNCTION RAILWAY, rail-way, 25J miles long, from the Caledonian near Kirtlebridge south-south-westward to Annan, and thence southward across Solway Firth to Brayton station of Maryport and Carlisle Railway in Cumberland. It was authorized in 1864 on a capital of 320,000 in shares and 106,600 in loans, was opened in 1869, and became amalgamated with the Caledonian in 1873. Its communication across the firth commences at 1J mile south-south-east of Annan ; extends 2544 yards in straight line ; consists of embankment over 594 yards, and of grand iron viaduct over 1950 yards ; and commands, from the viaduct, a splendid view, sky-lined by Hartf ell Mountains, Criffel, and Skiddaw. The viaduct was severely damaged by storm in February 1881 ; suffered overthrow near its south end to the extent of almost mile ; was much shaken also in the centre and near the north end ; looked, for a time, as if it would be totally destroyed ; and was proposed, by bill in July 1882, to be reconstructed.
SOMMER, high moor, formerly crowned with group of ancient tumuli, and now covered with plantation, in Bonhill parish, Dumbartonshire.
SOMMERLEE.
SOMMERVILLE, barony, with ruined ancient castle, in Carnwath parish, Lanarkshire. It gave the peerage title of baron from 1430 till 1870 to a family of its own name; and its castle was much frequented by King James vi.
SONACHAN, seat and hotel on Loch Awe near Port Sonachan, Argyleshire.
SOONHOPE, vale traversed by burn 4 miles southward to the Tweed at about a mile east of Peebles.
SORBIE, village and parish on south-east coast of "Wigtonshire. The village stands 6| miles south of "Wigton, was founded in latter part of last century, and has a post office designated of Wigtonshire, a railway station, and a parochial church of 1877. The parish contains also Garlieston village, measures 6 miles by 3, and comprises 9611 acres. Real property in 1880-81, 16,065. Pop. 1696. The coast has an extent of about 4 miles, and is partly sandy and flat, partly rocky and bold. The interior is finely diversified by hillocks and small vales, and presents, in many parts, a charming appearance. The western border includes part of Dowalton lake. A chief feature is the Earl of Galloway's seat of Galloway House; and chief antiquities are the ruined strong baronial fortalice of Sorbie Place, and remains of the strong ancient noble residence of Cruggleton Castle. Free and Congregational churches are in Garlieston. Two schools for 326 scholars are in the parish, and 1 of them for 160 is new.
SORBIES, section of Portpatrick parish, Wigtonshire.
SORN, village and parish in north of Kyle, Ayrshire. The village stands on Ayr river, 4 miles east of Mauchline, and has a post office under Mauchline, a parochial church with 611 sittings, and a public school with about 200 scholars. The parish contains also Catrine town, measures about 6J miles in both length and breadth, and comprises 19,195 acres. Real property in 1879-80, 20,206. Pop., quoad civilia, 4255; quoad sacra, 1617. The surface rises to an altitude of 1540 in the east, declines toward the west, and exhibits much diversity of moorland, hill, rising-ground, vale, and haugh. The rocks include coal, ironstone, limestone, and sandstone. Sorn Castle is a modernized very ancient edifice, crowns a rock overhanging Ayr river, belonged successively to the Earls of Linton and the Earls of Loudoun, and was occupied by Government forces for overawing the Covenanters. Established, Free, United Presbyterian, and Evangelical Union churches are in Catrine. Four schools for 762 scholars are in the parish, and 1 of them and an enlargement for 255 are new.
SORNE, headland in north of Mull Island, Argyleshire.
SORNHILL, village in Riccarton parish, Ayrshire.
SORRYSIKEMUIR, tract, with site of large ancient sepulchral tumulus, in St. Mungo parish, Dumfriesshire.
