HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsCarloway Broch
United Kingdom
A unique structure to Scotland, the Broch at Carloway was probably built around 200BC. This Iron Age structure was likely a home for important members of the community.
Contents
10 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Dun Carloway Broch
Welcome, curious traveler, to the rugged and evocative landscape of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. I am delighted to be your guide as we explore one of Scotland’s most remarkable prehistoric monuments: Dun Carloway…
Listen in the app2The Approach Path and Exterior Silhouette
As we ascend the gently sloping path toward the main structure, the sheer scale of Dun Carloway Broch begins to reveal itself in striking detail. Notice how the building seems to grow organically out of the bedrock, an…
Listen in the app3The Low Entrance Gateway
We have now arrived at the single entrance to Dun Carloway Broch. You will immediately notice that the doorway is surprisingly low, requiring most adults to dip down or even crawl to gain access to the interior. …
Listen in the app4The Ground Floor and Animal Enclosure
Emerging from the low entrance passage, you now stand in the central circular courtyard of the broch. Take a moment to look around at the enclosing walls rising up toward the open sky. …
Listen in the app5The Intra-mural Space and Double Walls
Now, I direct your attention to the exposed cross-section of the wall structure. Here, the true architectural genius of the broch builders is laid bare. …
Listen in the app6The Spiral Staircase
We now approach one of the most evocative features of Dun Carloway Broch: the intra-mural staircase. Winding its way upward through the narrow gap between the inner and outer walls, this flight of stone steps provided the…
Listen in the app7The Upper Level and Habitation Area
Having ascended the intra-mural staircase, we now stand on the upper galleries of the broch. Looking out over the central void, you must engage your imagination to complete the picture. …
Listen in the app8The Outer Wall and the Siege of 1601
We have now moved back outside to examine the towering exterior wall from a different vantage point. While the origins of Dun Carloway are firmly rooted in the ancient Iron Age, these stones have borne witness to much later, and…
Listen in the app9Final Reflections
As we conclude our tour, I invite you to walk around to the highest elevated point near the structure, allowing for a panoramic view of the broch set against the sweeping Lewis landscape. It is here, taking in the monument in its…
Listen in the app10Closing
As we conclude our tour, I invite you to walk around to the highest elevated point near the structure, allowing for a panoramic view of the broch set against the sweeping Lewis landscape. It is here, taking in the monument in its…
Listen in the app
What is Carloway Broch?
Carloway Broch is a place in United Kingdom with 10 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 10 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 58.2854, -6.7769 |
| Last updated |