Pictish brochs scotland. I don't think many of us realise just how deeply engrained in our present is our past. Oct 15, 2025 · Ancient dwellings in the far north of Scotland, called “wags”, are thought to be the best preserved Pictish homes in Britain. It was here that the adventure began. The brochs are off the road in a field but are well signposted and a well 'trodden' path to them makes the need for wellies non-essential. Crannogs, which may originate in Neolithic Scotland, may have been rebuilt, and some were still in use in the time of the Picts. They knew that brochs were much earlier—perhaps Viking or Pictish products of the Dark Ages. Today I’m covering some sites which, in one sense don’t qualify as being off the beaten track, but The Glenelg brochs were becoming tourist attractions by the end of the 1700s, at which time many antiquarians believed they had been built by Picts or Danes. 300 BC, [1] and is one of more than 500 brochs built in Scotland. Until recently these monumental drystone towers dominated Iron Age studies – broch-centred focus that influenced interpretation of life in the period. May 2, 2018 · The Broch is an ancient dwelling, built from as early as 500 B. This article was most recently revised and updated by Chelsey Parrott-Sheffer. So we decided to head back to Drag and zoom the map to the area you're interested in. In 208 AD, the Romans marched again to conquer Scotland. 1/18 Panoramic view showing the ditch around the broch and village. Now, the broch is no wooden hut or primitive structure – the broch was an imposing stone tower, a marvel of the Iron Age, described by some as the pinnacle of prehistoric architecture! Often described as having a ‘cooling tower’ shape and sometimes built upto 50 feet The Picts and their Legacy The following information will be a compilation of any material that is about or related to the Picts. The Picts lived in what we now call northern England and southern Scotland, with the bulk of their settlements being north of the Firth of Forth, in Scotland. May 21, 2023 · Mysterious stones with cryptic symbols, silver treasure hoards, and crumbling ruins. In 367 AD, the Picts with the help of the Irish invaded England and together they pushed the Romans back from their last defensive positions at Hadrian's wall. The site consists of an Atlantic roundhouse with numerous external outbuildings. They rise high from their foundations by employing a series of weight-saving and load-bearing galleries, stairways and passages within their double-skinned walls. Old Scatness is an archeological site on Scat Ness, near the village of Scatness, in the parish of Dunrossness in the south end of Mainland, Shetland, Scotland, near Sumburgh Airport. Dun Carloway was probably built some time in the last century BC. Clicking on a marker will reveal the name of the broch and a link to a page about it. Available online now from Ullapool Trading, and in various local shops. When you spend time around the Picts and their brochs, sometimes it's easy to envision life with them and understand why they did things, but at other times it isn't. Oct 26, 2023 · A. Not long after that the Romans left Britain. Mousa is the only broch to retain its full internal stair and to stand to its original height. The round stone towers known as brochs, or “Pictish towers,” and the underground stone houses called weems, or “Picts’ houses,” however, both predate this kingdom. While these are overwhelmingly concentrated north of the The building known as a Broch in Scotland is a hollow-walled fort type structure dating from the Iron Age. 5 It is estimated that at least seven hundred brochs once existed across Scotland. The facts speak clearly for themselves. There are well over 500 brochs in Scotland, most of them found in northern and western Scotland and the islands. Image credit: Morris R. Nybster Broch, which has evidence of Pictish use, is located nearby. Book Condition: Fine Jacket Condition: Fine Categories: Scottish, Celtic Studies, Megalithic/Goddess/Geomancy, Medieval and Early Medieval, Celtic Christianity Seller ID:013961 Keywords: cadbury hillfort celtic farming medieval scotland celtic scotland picts viking scotland hebrides scottish saints columba iona picts brochs pictish curraghs This modification occurs inside the broch as well where we get structure 7, the clover leaf house, around this time. It consists of medieval, Viking, Pictish, and Iron Age remains and has been a settlement for thousands of years, each new generation adding buildings, and levelling off old ones. Inside the 4m thick walls there are still inter-mural passageways and the remains of a staircase which can be climbed. Sep 20, 2023 · A. Click on the icons/labels to see the detailed information and photos for that location. ' Broch in Dun Carloway. The broch is located near the Caithness Broch Centre. With its surrounding village and the amazing views over the water, near Aikerness beach, the site is one of the best sites in Orkney. Music:- Epidemic Sound Joss Edwards Music:- Video:- Videoblocks Become a Mar 16, 2025 · Brochs are found throughout northern and western Scotland, with a few isolated examples in the Lowlands. These two thousand year old stone structures date from the Iron Age, and it is estimated that at least seven hundred brochs once existed across Scotland. Not long after that, the Romans left Britain. [2] It stands beside the A9 road, around 4 kilometres northeast of Golspie. Even in its ruined state, Carn Liath shows the ingenuity of Scotland’s Iron Age farmers and the sophistication of their architecture in designing an impressive and well-defended settlement. However, for centuries it remained hidden under a large massive, grassy mound on the northeast coast of Mainland, the main island in Orkney, the group of islands situated off the north coast of Scotland. Visit the stunning site today or contact Historic Environment Scotland for more information. They are unusually close together for brochs, standing just 500m apart. Download this stock image: Pictish iron age broch near Glenelg Ross shire Scotland Stone fort for defense from raiding parties Dun Telve - AANPA5 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. May 23, 2018 · The Broch of Gurness is an outstanding surviving example of an Iron Age settlement that is unique to northern Scotland. Pictish musingsThoughts Over the years while visiting brochs, I've had a few thoughts. It was followed by The broch and Iron Age village in 2015, which considered pre-broch occupation from the Neolithic, but focused on the construction of the broch village from the mid first millennium cal BC. Brochs are circular stone towers built by the Picts and Iron Age communities of Scotland, typically used for defensive and domestic purposes. Their descendants still flourish in the Highlands of Scotland and around the world. What is known for a fact is that they were first referred to as Picts by the Roman writer Eumenius in AD 297, and that the Pictish nation lasted until AD 843 when Kenneth Mac Alpin, a Scot, became king of a united Scotland. The Brochs were symbols of both defence and prestige Dun Carloway Broch is an Iron Age dwelling located on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. The History of Mousa Broch Dec 2, 2022 · All across northern Scotland, you can still see the skeletal remains of prehistoric skyscrapers. Jan 13, 2018 · What’s in a Broch? Brochs are Iron Age towers, unique to Scotland, and found mainly in the North Highlands and Islands. It is located above Loch an Duin on a rocky knoll in a good defensive position on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Dun Carloway is one of the best preserved brochs in the Western Isles, with one side of it still reaching a height of nearly 10m. They are mostly found in the north and west Highlands and Islands May 30, 2025 · Before the Vikings arrived, Orkney was a heartland of the Picts, a mysterious and powerful Iron Age people who dominated northern Scotland for centuries. com Admire a pair of 2,000-year-old tall broch towers set in a beautiful glen. It is one of the island's "must see" attractions. Get an overview of Dun Carloway, an impressive broch that saw more than 1,000 years of use. [1] Where they lived and details of their culture can be gleaned from early medieval texts and Pictish stones Glenelg Broch Dun Telve Broch South of the village of Glenelg up a side road are the brochs of Dun Telve and Dun Troddan. Carn Liath Broch, BroraCarn Liath is a special place for me, as it was the first broch I photographed and spent time with. Carn Liath is a broch, a sophisticated type of Iron Age settlement accompanied by the rare survival of an associated village and earthworks. Home » News and Blogs » Off the Beaten Track 11 - In search of Brochs Off the Beaten Track 11 - In search of Brochs Published: 12 June 2020 Brochs are the best known of Shetland’s prehistoric remains and Mousa is regarded as iconic throughout Scotland. While my husband and I were on our honeymoon in the UK we traveled from England to Scotland. Although these were built earlier in the Iron Age, with construction ending around 100 AD, they remained in use into and beyond the Pictish period. The Aberlemno I roadside symbol stone, Class I Pictish stone with Pictish symbols, showing (top to bottom) the serpent, the double disc and Z-rod and the mirror and comb The Picts were a group of peoples in what is now Scotland north of the Firth of Forth, in the Early Middle Ages. Not long after that the Romans retreated out of Scotland and cowered behind Hadrian's wall. You can find us on iTunes. Sutherland – AncientPages. NOTE: the centre is not currently open to the public. In the entrance passage is a cavity that was possibly used to guard the broch. Sep 21, 2022 · Where are brochs in Scotland? It is only to the north and west of Scotland, and predominant on Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, where stone was a more readily available building material than timber, that brochs are to be found. Glenelg Brochs are located a few miles from the jetty where the small ferry crosses the narrow straits of Kyle Rhea to land on Skye. Oct 27, 2015 · Dun Carloway is an astonishingly well-preserved example of a Scottish broch (not to be confused with a Scottish brogue, but just as iconic). It is on the island of Mousa in Shetland, Scotland. Formidable Iron Age strong holds - they were built in numbers across northern Scotland for about 300 years, then suddenly fell out of use. As without the surrounding defensibility of countless mountains, Lochs, straits and Islands, the Brochs of Southern Scotland, and their strategic placement, stand out even… Sep 26, 2025 · The Pictish kingdom is notable for the stylized but vigorous beauty of its carved memorial stones and crosses. They consist of drystone towers formed of two concentric walls, with a narrow passage and small cells. Brochs are mysterious features of Scottish archaeology. Brochs are found throughout northern and western Scotland, concentrated mainly in Caithness, Orkney and Shetland. Out of all Scotland's broch’s one quite literally stands supreme: Mousa Broch rises to 13m high and is both magnificent and awe inspiring. They were built during the Iron Age – some sources offer dates of between 400 BC and 100 AD – and may have stood up to 16 metres (52 feet) in height. Discover the historical significance of this ancient structure and immerse yourself in the rich heritage of the Scottish highlands. Sutherland - AncientPages. Clachtoll Broch: an Iron Age Home in Assynt An new popular publication tells the story of the project, with lots of images, and evocative reconstruction illustrations by Chris Mitchell. . See full list on britainexpress. C (and inhabited until 1000 AD), found only in Scotland. Dun Telve and Dun Troddan are both outstanding brochs, in the beautiful valley of Gleann Beag. Stone in the environment surrounding the Pictish people was put to good use in other ways too, of course, and the other fascinating icon along with the Pictish Symbol Stones, which arouses our passion and captures our interest, is the Broch or Dun. As the name implies it was thought Formidable Iron Age strong holds - they were built in numbers across northern Scotland for about 300 years, then suddenly fell out of use. In spite of their popularity, brochs are still shrouded in mystery. Places to Visit in Scotland - Dun Carloway Broch Illustration of Inside a Broch Brochs A Broch is an Iron Age drystone (no mortar or cement holding the stones together) tower with the outer stonework formed from two walls with space between to allow for a stairway, which also helps to tie the two walls together. Pictish symbols, whether carved on stone or inscribed upon artefacts like massive silver chains and silver ornaments, are only found in Scotland. Open to the public for free all year. As I visit each broch, I'll share my thoughts on this website as I explore this pivotal time in Scotland's history. At the far western side of the Island of Mousa (south island), in Shetland, and overlooking the Sound of Mousa, stands the well preserved ‘Broch of Mousa', dating from the late Iron Age; but these brochs have often wrongly been called Pictish towers by some historians, though the building of brochs… Jun 22, 2018 · Oral tradition also links the brochs with the Picts, known as Picts' dwellings in Scotland. 🏴 MIND-BLOWING discoveries about Ancient Scotland that will change EVERYTHING you thought you knew! From the mysterious Picts who made Romans tremble to the incredible Uniquely Scottish Brochs appear only in Scotland. They are open all year and entry is free. com - Already three centuries ago (in 1726), John Toland wrote that brochs or the so-called 'Pictish Towers' "are apt all over Scotland to make everything Pictish, whose origin they do not know. Discover Mousa Broch, Scotland’s best-preserved broch, featuring in two Norse sagas. ’ Broch in Dun Carloway. The broch's walls have partially collapsed but some sections stand at almost their original full height and the internal staircase between the inner and outer walls is well preserved and can be ascended. Andrews to Glamis, to visit their castle, we arrived too late to enter. Known as a broch, the exact The brochs were seen solely as defensive strongholds, constructed by people plagued by conflict. One day in 1929, Orcadian poet and antiquarian Robert Rendall (1898 A broch is a type of ancient Iron Age structure unique to Scotland, featuring a double-walled design that was likely used for living, defense, and storage. These circular towers are drystone constructions Nov 22, 2023 · The Broch of Gurness on Mainland Orkney is one of the finest examples of a broch, an iron-age building unique to Scotland. 2,500 years ago, these Video of the Grimsay wheelhouse, near Bagh nam Feadag, the best preserved example in the Uists The interior of a Jarlshof wheelhouse showing bays between the stone piers Wheelhouse at the archæological site of Old Scatness, Shetland In archaeology, a wheelhouse is a prehistoric structure from the Iron Age found in Scotland. It is plausible that the defeats suffered by the Romans at the hands of the Picts were Sep 18, 2022 · The archeological site is home to a Bronze Age smithy, an Iron Age broch and roundhouses, a complex of Pictish wheelhouses, a Viking longhouse, and a medieval farmhouse. It would also have served as a visible Nybster Broch, an Iron Age (550BC – 560AD) broch settlement which predates the Pictish period but which is thought to show evidence of later use by the Picts. Pictish people of Scotland. Among the discoveries is an Iron A trip north to an ancient broch not far from Golspie and Dunrobin Castle. Much of the original ground The first volume, The Pictish village and Viking settlement, covering around 1000 years from 400 cal AD–1400 cal AD, appeared in 2010. Dec 13, 2023 · Brochs combine features of fort, fortified house, and status symbol, and could easily have served different purposes in different places and at different times. Feb 2, 2016 · Not much is known about the mysterious Picts, yet they played a vital role in the history of Scotland. Some five hundred Sep 16, 2022 · Hundreds of these ancient stone structures dot the Scottish Highlands, but the true purpose of brochs continues to baffle experts. It would have served as an occasionally defensible residence for an extended family complete with accommodation for animals at ground floor level. We also begin to get more ephemeral structures as this late Iron Age/Pictish period continues. Archaeologists discovered that Old Scatness was built between 400-200 Carn Liath Broch - Brochs are a prehistoric Iron Age building type unique to Scotland and were first constructed between 400 and 200 BC, with Carn Liath probably being around 2,200 years old. The Bronze Age settlers left evidence of several small Learn about the history of the Broch of Gurness and gain insights into life in the surrounding Iron Age settlement – Scotland’s best-preserved broch village. Jan 10, 2013 · Resembling small-scale cooling towers, brochs are dotted around the landscape of Scotland, primarily in the north and west; it has been suggested that they were built by the Picts, who lived here long before the Vikings arrived, and then appear to have been wiped out – either suddenly or gradually – by the Norse invaders. So far we’ve found only a fraction of those which must survive, if only we knew where to look. As I've documented each broch here on the website, I've often written my thoughts and musings on the broch pages. As the Iron Age emerged from the preceding Bronze Age, it becomes legitimate to talk of a Celtic culture in Scotland. Mousa Broch, Shetland Mousa broch is the tallest Iron Age drystone tower still standing in Scotland and is one of the best-preserved prehistoric buildings in Europe. After Mons Graupius brochs appeared around the Firth of Forth, thus witnessing the expansion south by the broch dwellers - maybe by Roman invitation. " [2] It contains remains dating from 2500 BC up to the 17th century AD. Aug 31, 2018 · When you look at the placement of Pictish Brochs in Southern Scotland, the purely defensive placements of such structures is clearer to see, than at any other Broch site in Scotland. 2 on Tripadvisor among 4 attractions in Glenelg. One such broch is located on the southwest entrance to Loch Duich, opposite Eilean Donan. Tracing roots of development back to the early Iron Age, typified well in the robust 7th century BC building style of Bu in Orkney, the abandonment of brochs in favour of increasingly less Home » News and Blogs » Off the Beaten Track 5 - The Mysterious Picts Off the Beaten Track 5 - The Mysterious Picts Published: 30 April 2020 Shetland’s Pictish era is shrouded in mystery. Information about and images of the beautifully preserved Mousa Broch on Shetland on Undiscovered Scotland. Dun Carloway (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Chàrlabhaigh) is a broch situated in the district of Carloway, on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, Scotland (grid reference They knew that brochs were much earlier—perhaps Viking or Pictish products of the Dark Ages. The broch is located near Golspie in Sutherland. [3] The site is under the care of Historic Environment Scotland and has a car-park and information board for visitors. Historians call the territory “Pictland”, and though it started with only seven chiefdoms, it would later turn into one of Britain's most powerful kingdoms. The Picts so resoundingly defeated the Romans that they survive to this very day. They passed into state care in 1855 and today they are cared for by Historic Environment Scotland. Visit the site today or contact Historic Environment Scotland for more information. Maciver – CC BY-SA 2. [1][2] It was an age of forts and farmsteads, the most dramatic remains of which are brochs some of whose walls still There is evidence of Pictish presence at Gurnessa bone knife handle was found at Gurness which has an ogam inscription, as was a stone carved with Pictish symbols. A few examples occur in the Scottish Borders and on the west coast of Dumfries and Galloway, and near Stirling. Book your tickets online for Brochs at Glenelg - Dun Telve & Dun Troddan, Glenelg: See 126 reviews, articles, and 86 photos of Brochs at Glenelg - Dun Telve & Dun Troddan, ranked No. Caithness Broch Centre has a fascinating exhibition on Caithness brochs and the 19th century archaeologist, Sir Frances Tress Barry, who excavated many of them. Below is my guide to help you plan your visit – tips, map, facts and photos. The building known as a Broch in Scotland is a hollow-walled fort type structure dating from the Iron Age. Carn Liath is one of the best-preserved brochs in Sutherland, offering visitors the chance to step back in time and explore its ancient walls and surrounding settlement. Jarlshof (/ ˈjɑːrlzhɒf / YARLZ-hof) [1] is the best-known prehistoric archaeological site in Shetland, Scotland. Unique to Scotland, these enigmatic Iron Age towers are called brochs. The brochs are not the best preserved in Scotland, and in fact the image above would suggest a degree of completeness which sadly is Spotlight onthe Caithness Broch Project! In almost every part of Scotland, ancient history lives alongside modern society and Caithness is no different. On a drive from St. Though brochs differed from one to another, they seem to have followed a certain design. The term was first coined after the discovery of a ruined mound in Jul 28, 2022 · Standing amid the stunning Scottish wilderness for the past 2,000 years, these mysterious stone structures are a symbol of Scotland’s unique archaeological past. In 212 AD, they again left defeated. I will reference all materials where possible. Scotland in the Iron Age concerns the period of prehistory in Scotland from about 800 BCE to the commencement of written records in the early Christian era. It is the tallest broch still standing and amongst the best-preserved prehistoric buildings in Europe. The distribution of brochs is centred on northern Scotland, with the densest concentrations found in Caithness, Sutherland, and the Northern Isles. Archaeological sites such as the Pictish brochs and mysterious circular stone ruins add to the area’s historical intrigue. Broch of Mousa (or Mousa Broch) is a preserved Iron Age broch or round tower. Built using edge set slabs, much of the architecture of the village has evolved to these small cellular structures. You can see the distribution of brochs on the map below, and you can zoom in to find particular sites. The origins of the Picts are shrouded in the mists of history. Sep 16, 2020 · NGR: HU 45730 23660. The Picts left no This post reports on a project to construct a replica iron-age broch in the Caithness region of the Scottish Highlands. Maciver - CC BY-SA 2. Brochs are incorrectly also called ‘Pictish Towers’, but the Picts came later, they were not the original builders of the Brochs. A stone stair corkscrews between the inner and outer walls to the top. Carn Liath was first excavated in the 1800s by the Duke of Sutherland. Much has been written about their origins and there is evidence to show that as early as 600BC there was a tradition of building defensive, circular structures. The interior is deeper than the exterior, which remains partially banked. The remains of the broch are still impressive. com – Already three centuries ago (in 1726), John Toland wrote that brochs or the so-called ‘Pictish Towers’ “are apt all over Scotland to make everything Pictish, whose origin they do not know. Built between 400 BC and 200 AD, these would have been an awesome sight. The ‘Broch Bulls’ are a set of 25 to 30 symbol stones carved with stylised bulls that were uncovered when the old fort was dug up to construct the harbour structure in the early 1800s. What did the Picts look like? There are still traces of some 500 brochs in Scotland today. The people who built the brochs and souterrains are sometimes referred to as proto-Picts. Carn Liath Broch, built in the Iron Age is a fascinating place to visit. Explore the fascinating Pictish iron age drystone tower, known as a broch, in Scotland. There are 2 good examples of Iron Age broch in Glenelg, Dun Telve and Dun Troddan. These brave and determined people repelled the conquests of Romans and Angles and won one of the most important battles in Scottish history. While much about their language and origins remains debated, their legacy endures in Orkney through enigmatic symbol stones, sophisticated metalwork, and settlements built around earlier brochs. However, when actual excavations began in the mid-nineteenth century, they produced a good deal of material that was known to be Roman in date. They were: double skinned or double walled constructions the walls appear to have had a ‘cooling tower Dec 25, 2016 · The broch builders had been long gone by then, and while the Picts may well have been the descendants of these broch builders, archaeological information is unable to prove a clear descent from one group to the other. Some The Burghead (or Broch) Bulls Nowadays, the Picts are perhaps best known for their magnificent carved symbol stones – and Burghead doesn’t disappoint. Sep 25, 2016 · The Broch of Dun Carloway, which dates from perhaps the 1st century BC or earlier, is the most spectacular of any in the Western Isles and one of the best preserved brochs in Scotland. Still surviving after over 2,000 Brochs are a truly unique aspect of Scotland’s rich prehistoric tapestry. These distinctive circular drystone towers display quite startling structural complexity. [1] Middle Iron Age architecture in the Northern Isles of Scotland is strongly associated with the pinnacle of drystone construction and symbolic, if not real, projections of power invested in brochs. Nearby—on the sands of Evie—was found a fragment of a Pictish symbol stone. It occupies a low hilltop with commanding views across the seaways to the… The Picts have left their mark on Brora with surviving ruins of broch sites at Strath Steven, Kintradwell, four around Loch Brora, as well as quite a few others, such as Carn Bran in Glen Loth, Caisteal na Coille in Strath Brora, and Coich Burn near Balnacoil. Scottish brochs are uinique iron-age buildings dating from 200 BC to 200 AD of which about 500 have been located with concentraion in Caithness. And on the opposite side of the broch from the entrance is a set of steps within the wall. Some of my musings are Let’s build a Broch! Just a few days left to donate here:- History Time is now a podcast. It lies in Sumburgh, Mainland, Shetland and has been described as "one of the most remarkable archaeological sites ever excavated in the British Isles. This distribution over such a Apr 7, 2022 · The broch, designed by CBP co-founder Iain Maclean, reflects the wider architectural repertoire of brochs across Scotland, incorporates a number of flourishes such as triangular doorway lintels, cells built into the broch itself, and a series of outbuildings such as wags, wheelhouses and blockhouses. Jul 18, 2014 · Originally resembling cooling towers in profile, brochs are concentrated in western and northern Scotland, with just a few examples in the Borders and Dumfries-shire. This is the best preserved and most visited broch in the Outer Hebrides. The Brochs were symbols of both defence and prestige Dun Carloway, or Dun Charlabhaigh, is a remarkably well preserved broch in a stunning location overlooking Loch Roag on the west coast of Lewis. Well worth a visit as they are 2 of the best examples of Brochs on the Scottish mainland. Exploring Orkney's Pictish heritage offers a Brochs are popularly associated with the Picts. It is thought to have been constructed c. There are about 500 surviving examples of brochs in Scotland, found mostly in the north and west of the mainland and in the islands. With more brochs than anywhere else in the country, Caithness is a testament to the outstanding craftsmanship of Iron Age peoples. Moreover, expressions of power and prestige distinctive to early medieval Scotland suggest profound cultural divergence continued in the centuries that followed the demise of Roman Britain. The Picts appear to be a fabled people of Scotland, yet they are very real and very fascinating. tjfbfjau6tyae9vnqbuxrwihb2t5ofo6kbj7rtqcu5clw