Another overcast day and another adventure on the Isle of Lewis.
Our next stop was the ruins of Dun Carloway. We were heading to see a historic roundhouse known as a broch.
As we got closer we could see the structure in the distance. It looked like a stone beehive. As we did the climb towards the ruins, l looked up information about this broch. I found the following on the Visit Scotland site:
At Dun Carloway, we can get an excellent cross-section of a broch – a type of structure found only in Scotland. At 9m tall it still stands close to its impressive full height. The broch was probably constructed about 200 BC. Broch-building ceased around AD 100, but they may have continued in use. Evidence from excavations suggests Dun Carloway may have been used until about AD 1000. It’s also said to have been used as a stronghold by members of the Morrison Clan during the 1500s.
Visit Scotland
I had no idea that these were that old, tracing back to 200BC. It is truly amazing.
I was quite taken aback by the size. I wondered about the challenge of building it. There were a lot of stones in this structure and it was built on quite a hill. It was extraordinary.
We ventured inside to get a better feel of the place. It was very windy but once inside there was a sense of calm. The difference was striking. I could see for miles. I was left in wonder about what life would have been like living there.
© The Scottish Pearl 2022