Mousa Iron Age Broch
United Kingdom
Photostop in Sandwick overlooking the Island of Mousa with it's iconic iron age Broch, said to be the best preserved in Scotland.
Contents
9 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to the Island of Mousa and the site of the Broch of Mousa, arguably the 'best broch you can ever see.' As we stand on this remote island, accessed only by a small boat from the Shetland Mainland, you are looking at an…
Listen in the app2The Storm Petrels of Mousa
Before we enter the broch, we must acknowledge the island's most famous avian residents: the 'storm petrels.' Thousands of these tiny, nocturnal seabirds make their homes 'below and between the stones' of Mousa’s boulder beaches,…
Listen in the app3The Outer Wall and Dry Stone Construction
As you stand at the base of the broch, take a moment to analyze the 'dry stone construction' that has allowed this tower to stand for 2,000 years. There is 'no mortar, no cement' here holding it together; instead, the stability…
Listen in the app4The Entrance Passage and Guard Cell
Entering the broch is a 'magical' moment where 'prehistory comes to life.' You walk through a 'narrow entrance passage' topped with a 'big stone lintel' that must have had a 'fair weight to it.' This entrance was designed with…
Listen in the app5The Central Hearth and Interior Space
Once inside the main circular area of the broch, you are standing in the 'central space' where the community lived. In the middle, a 'hearth can be seen,' the social and functional center of the home where people 'cooked, talked,…
Listen in the app6The Spiral Staircase — Walking Through Time
Now, we begin the 'toughest part' of the visit: climbing the 'very narrow and very old' spiral staircase within the walls. These stairs have 'been here for over 2,000 years,' and walking on them is a truly 'astonishing'…
Listen in the app7The Top of the Broch and the Viking Sagas
Reaching the top of Mousa Broch, you are rewarded with a 'wonderful view' over the island and the 'Sound of Mousa' toward the mainland. From this height of 13 meters, you can truly appreciate the 'defensive or prestigious' nature…
Listen in the app8Final Reflections on the Island of Stones
As we descend from the broch and prepare to leave the island, we reflect on the 'magical and intriguing' experience of Mousa. We have seen the 'best-preserved broch in the world,' a structure that has stood for over 2,000 years…
Listen in the app9Closing
Our scholarly journey to the Broch of Mousa has come to an end. We have climbed 'stairs older than the Roman Empire' and stood where 'Viking sagas were written.' It is my hope that this experience has left you with a profound and…
Listen in the app
What is Mousa Iron Age Broch?
Mousa Iron Age Broch is a place in United Kingdom with 9 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 | Activity |
| Story sections | 9 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 59.9953, -1.1823 |
| Last updated |