Dun Carloway
Brochs are amongst the most impressive of our pre Christian monuments. The Carloway Broch is one of the finest and best preserved of these Iron Age defensive dwellings. Situated on the west coast of Lewis, right on Europe’s Celtic fringe, it is a sobering reminder of the skills and sophistication of our ancient ancestors.
At least 2000 years old it still stands over 10m high with walls up to 4m wide it is an imposing local landmark. Built as a vital refuge for the local farmers, and probably their livestock, during this turbulent period, Brochs are unique to Scotland and look like a huge chimney or cooling tower.
They are an entirely dry stone construction with no mortar or cement used in their construction but even now Dun Carloway would require a skilled climber to scale its smooth outer wall - that's without the inhabitants pelting you with anything that came to hand from the top of the walls many metres above.
Dun Carloway gives one of the best impressions of how brochs would have appeared a couple of thousand years ago. One side has now crumbled but rather than taking away from the interpretation of the site, this gives a cut away view which allows a clear view of the construction. Almost the full height of the wall is intact yet the galleries and stairways between the double wall can be still be seen. Dun Carloway was thought to have been still fairly intact until the 15/1600's when tales tell of Clans using the broch as a hiding place when one clan had stolen hairy coos from another.
Whilst at Dun Carloway we:
- Gaze at this 2000 yr old structure
- History and legends
- Explore the nooks and crannies!
Tours that visit Dun Carloway are:
Other places that may interest you include:
