About Hightae
Hightae is one of the four historic Royal Four Towns in Annandale, Dumfriesshire. Nestled between the River Annan and the surrounding countryside, it’s a place with deep roots and a strong community spirit.
This is the live community website for Hightae, Heck, Greenhill and Smallholm. You’ll find the directory, history, fishing, the hall, the school and everyday village information here.
Community Council minutes are on royalfourtowns.com.
The Hightae Inn is a licensed guest house. Details are at hightaeinn.co.uk.
History
The remarkable story of the Royal Four Towns – local tradition about the King’s Kindly Tenants, the ancient fishing rights that still exist today, and the village’s war memorial that remembers local men who gave their lives.
Explore the full History section →Fishing Rights
The 700-year-old story of how the people of the Royal Four Towns kept their ancient right to fish the River Annan – local tradition, the 1732 court case, and section 64 of the 2000 Act.
Read the full Fishing Rights story →War Memorial
The stone war memorial in the centre of Hightae remembers the local men of the Royal Four Towns who fell in the First and Second World Wars. Full names, Rolls of Honour inside the Hall, and how the community cares for it today.
Visit the War Memorial page →Last reviewed: September 2026