Broch of Gurness

Most brochs stand alone. Gurness stands in the middle of the village that grew up against its walls, a close warren of stone houses, hearths, cupboards and upright slabs laid out round the tower and preserved well enough to walk through. Historic Environment Scotland calls it one of Scotland's best-preserved broch villages. It sits on the shore at Aikerness, near Evie, looking across Eynhallow Sound to the hills of Rousay, with the sea on three sides. At least ten brochs once lined the shores of this sound, and this is the one to see. Ditches guarded the landward side, and the place was lived in for centuries before Picts and then Norsemen built over it in turn. A small visitor centre beside the car park shows the Iron Age finds from the site. Allow an hour, and bring a jacket, because there is no shelter from the wind out here.