Cairnquoy broch

Another grassy mound, and a rather small one, but there are a few orginal stones of what I believe is the external wall showing through the ground. It's on the small side, and one or two think it is perhaps a little too small for a broch. I'm of the mind that brochs didn't all have the same purpose and were built to different sizes to serve differing purposes. Some brochs are huge defensive fortresses with outer defence walls and ditches, others are small as they were probably only built to maintain line of sight communications. This one is in line of sight with Thrumpster Little, Cairn of Humpster, Hempriggs. and Tannach Mains as well as the Cairn Hill broch further inland. If I'm right, then its purpose was purely line of sight communications and that accounts for its small size. To understand brochs, you just need a military head and to be able to think strategically.

I parked on a verge nearby at Tannach, walked down the track and cut across the field to the broch.

Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved.

Cairnquoy broch photographs

Cairnquoy 01

Cairnquoy 02

Cairnquoy 03

Cairnquoy 04

Cairnquoy 05

Cairnquoy 06

Cairnquoy 07

 Cairnquoy 08

Cairnquoy 09

Cairnquoy 10

Cairnquoy 11

Cairnquoy 12

Disclaimer: Some brochs were built with military defensive purpose, and as such can be situated in extremely dangerous areas, such as on the edge of cliffs and ravines. Additionally, these are Iron Age structures, most of them in ruins, and they are extremely hazardous, with crumbling stone walls and hidden chambers. Existing walls, lintels, and passages could collapse at any time. The information here is provided free but it is your responsibility to ensure its accuracy, ensure your own safety, and acquire permissions for access where necessary. Accessing brochs is done entirely at your own risk.