Broch of Gurness

Broch of Gurness is an Iron Age fortified settlement with a central stone tower featuring walls approximately 4 meters thick. The site also shows the remains of surrounding village dwellings arranged within a complex system of defensive ditches.

The settlement was built between 500 and 200 BC as a defensive stronghold. Long after the original inhabitants left, Norse settlers reused parts of the site, leaving traces of their own occupation centuries later.

The central tower contains stone-built storage spaces and hearths that show how residents organized their daily life. The galleries between the thick walls served both to insulate the structure and to store goods, revealing sophisticated building knowledge.

The site sits on level ground and is straightforward to walk around with clear pathways between the structures. Visitors should prepare for changeable weather as the islands experience wind and unpredictable conditions throughout the year.

Stone-lined graves from the 9th century show that Vikings reused and occupied the site long after it was originally built. These Norse burials offer a rare glimpse into how two very different cultures overlapped at the same location across centuries.

Location: Orkney Islands

Location: Evie and Rendall

Operator: Historic Scotland

Website: https://historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/broch-of-gurness

GPS coordinates: 59.12397,-3.08167

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:43