Carloway is an Iron Age broch that is free to visit on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. It is still remarkably intact and, in good weather, has great views.
Visiting Carloway Broch
Getting to the Isle of Lewis involves a ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway. This isn’t likely to be a day trip so we usually stay in Stornoway itself but we have stayed near Callanaish too – an amazing set of stone circles. Roads are generally quiet on the island but it is still quite a time consuming drive. There is a small car park next to Carloway Broch, it is free to visit and there is a small exhibition detailing its history.
My Experience
This particular visit was as part of a Scottish road trip, detailed in my travel blog here in distant 2012. The weather was superb, blue skies and no wind – until we crossed to the western side of Lewis which faces the Atlantic – then we were facing a constant gale! Carloway Broch is always a lovely place to visit as you can climb inside it and see how it was built and get some appreciation for the skills of these Iron Age civilisations.
Carloway Broch Photo Gallery
History
Dùn Chàrlabhaigh is entered by a single low heavily-defended doorway with a guard chamber to one side. There are two further chambers at ground level within the massive thickness of the walls, and a stone-built staircase which rises between the inner and outer walls, giving access to the upper levels.
Limited excavation in one of the intramural chambers uncovered hearths, pottery and a quern stone from re-occupation of the cell in the later Iron Age. Although the broch appears to have been long roofless and uninhabited, a well-known local story demonstrates that it remained an important landmark and place of refuge. The Morrisons had stolen cattle from the MacAulays in a raid, and took refuge in the broch until the danger of reprisal had passed.
However, they met a fearful end when Donald Cam MacAulay managed to climb the sheer outer face of the drystone tower by inserting his dirks between the stones, and throwing burning heather down on them.
References
The history above is copied from the Visit Outer Hebrides site here.
There is a short walk around the broch and area on the walking highlands site here.
Visitor information can be found on the Historic Scotland site here.