The Broch of Gurness on Mainland Orkney is one of the finest examples of a broch, an iron-age building unique to Scotland.
With its surrounding village and the amazing views over the water, near Aikerness beach, the site is one of the best sites in Orkney.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit – tips, map, facts and photos.
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Scotland:
My favorite platform to rent a car in Scotland: DiscoverCars
The unmissable boat tour: Seal spotting on Loch Linnhe from Fort William
My favorite excursion from Edinburgh: Glenfinnan and Glencoe
My favorite places to stay:
- Edinburgh: see best rated hotels – e.g. Balmoral Hotel
- Glencoe: see best rated hotels – e.g. The Glencoe House Hotel
- Portree: see best rated hotels – e.g. The Cuillin Hills Hotel
- Inverness: see best rated hotels – e.g. Kingsmills Hotel
Why visit the Broch of Gurness on Mainland Orkney?
The islands of Orkney are home to many brochs.
The most famous ones are the Broch of Gurness, because of its size and state of conservation and the Brough of Birsay because of its location on an island accessible on foot at low tide.
In this article, let’s discover more about the Broch of Gurness, definitively one of the top things to do on Orkney.
Video – Virtual Tour
Below is a short video to give you an idea of what your visit could look like – get a virtual tour!
More photos after the planning tips.
PLANNING TIPS & Map – Broch of Gurness, Orkney, Scotland
How to get to the Broch of Gurness – Map & Location
- Located on the North Shore of West Mainland Orkney
- Near the village of Evie
- Kirkwall to Broch of Gurness = 30min drive
- Stromness to Broch of Gurness = 30min drive
- Below is a map to help you locate the broch:
The GPS coordinates and location on a practical map are available in the Travel Guide eBook, that helps you plan your Scotland itinerary:
Plan your dream trip in Scotland thanks to my guide
- 15 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 170+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 170+ original photos to help you choose
Visiting Tips
- Timing – Plan 30 min to 1hour to visit the museum and the Broch of Gurness
- Broch of Gurness opening times: 9:30am to 5:30pm in summer (last entry at 5pm)
- Price – £6 – is included in the Orkney Explorer Pass
- Spend some time at the nearby Aikerness beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on mainland Orkney (just South between the town of Evie and the Broch)
- No facilities
Where to stay on Mainland Orkney
Most accommodations in the Orkneys can be found in the main towns:
- Kirkwall is the biggest town and is lively – Check out the accommodations in Kirkwall
- Stromness is small, close to the ferry and with a certain charm – Check out the accommodations in Stromness
- But you can also find accommodation more isolated in guesthouses and farms if you want a more peaceful experience – check out the best rated accommodations on the Orkney islands
Broch of Gurness – Facts & History
How old is the Broch of Gurness?
2000 years ago, Gurness was probably one of the most important settlements in Orkney.
Although Scotland has many many brochs, having one in the middle of a large village is unique to Orkney and northern Caithness (northeast point of Mainland Scotland).
The settlement is estimated to have begun between 500 and 200BC.
It was a tall tower, surrounded by a series of small stone dwellings and an outer wall. It must have been easy to defend.
It was probably abandoned around 100 AD.
Excavation of the broch
The Broch of Gurness was accidentally discovered in 1929 when Robert Rendall lost a leg of his stool in a hole while sitting at the top of a grassy mound, sketching.
So he started digging and found the top of a staircase.
Excavation began in 1930 and continued until 1939 (and the Second World War).
Despite the fact that some stones must have been reused to build other sites on the island, its conservation is quite good.
The Broch of Gurness in numbers
- It was tall – roughly 26ft (8m) high
- The diameter is 65ft (20m)
- The remains of the central tower stand up just under 12ft (3.6m)
Broch of Gurness Museum and Entrance
The carpark is very close to the site.
At the entrance there is a small museum with displays, miniature reconstitution of the site and artifacts.
I recommend you take the time to have a look at the few displays to better understand what you will look at.
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The Broch of Gurness walk
Then you enter the site.
There is a definitive path. You can wander around on the grass but don’t climb on the rocks!
Wear walking shoes, especially when it is wet as it can be slippery.
Outside views
The first overall view of the site is quite impressive.
A lot of the central tower remains. It is easy to see the strategic position near the water.
From the other site, you can clearly see the central tower and the outer wall.
Views of other islands – Rousay and more
Plus, from the broch, you have beautiful views of the water with the main island of Rousay right in front of it, as well as smaller islands such as Eynhallow and Wyre.
In the panorama below you can really see the length of the island of Rousay just across.
I was lucky to see it under the sun (it is Scotland after all) and the colors were amazing.
What a great place for a settlement!
Entrance causeway
They have set up clear signs with explanations everywhere.
The entrance causeway, for example, is on the eastern side.
There were houses on each side and it looks quite ceremonial.
It is allowed to walk around the ruins and even enter the central tower. It is great to see the structure of the various houses and the stairs still standing inside the tower.
I was really surprised by the high level of preservation of the site.
The ‘Shamrock’ Pictish Farm
During excavation, the archeologists found collapsed buildings around the central broth on one layer.
Those were a Pictish Farm, the ‘Shamrock’ House. It was established there from the 5th to 9th centuries AD, when Orkney was part of the Pictish nation.
They have been moved nearby and resettled exactly as is so that we can appreciate the difference between houses built on the same site by different cultures.
These are the first ruins you see when entering.
Later the Norse took over. They took over many of the sites around Aikerness.
One Viking grave may have been found on site. Maybe the mound had a significance for them.
Aikerness beach
Don’t forget to stop at the nearby Aikerness beach in Aikerness Bay.
It is considered one of the most beautiful beaches on Orkney with shallow transparent waters and fine sand.
Quite dreamy!
Want to see more? Here are other amazing things to do in Orkney:
- The fascinating Ring of Brodgar – read article
- The impressive Standing Stones of Stenness – read article
- The pink St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall – read article
- The Earl’s and Bishop’s Palaces – read article
- The ancient village of Skara Brae – read article
- The beautiful Yesnaby Cliffs – read article
- Or enjoy my complete article about the best things to do in Orkney
Planning a trip to Scotland? Check out my travel guide to help you plan it:
Plan your dream trip in Scotland thanks to my guide
- 15 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 170+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 170+ original photos to help you choose
And keep track of your own trip!
Want to see more of SCOTLAND?
Discover more things to do & places to see in my Travel Scotland Destination Guide.
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