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Achies is a broch situated approximately 800 metres north-east of Achies in Caithness, northern Scotland. Built during the Iron Age, this substantial stone tower represents one of Scotland's most distinctive prehistoric structures. Brochs are circular, hollow-walled fortifications unique to Iron Age Scotland, typically between 12 and 15 metres in internal diameter, with walls containing a hollow gallery space that provided both structural strength and defensive advantage.
The broch stands upon bedrock composed of Middle Old Red Sandstone, a geological formation dating to the Middle Devonian period. This bedrock comprises conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone, materials that would have been readily quarried and shaped for the monument's construction. The local stone sources provided builders with suitable material for the characteristic drystone masonry typical of broch architecture.
Today, Achies broch is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2235, acknowledging its importance as a survival of Iron Age settlement and defensive architecture in the far north of Scotland. The monument contributes to understanding the pattern of Iron Age occupation across Caithness and the strategic importance of this region during the prehistoric period.
Achies, broch 800m NE of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2235. View the official record →
Achies is a broch situated approximately 800 metres north-east of Achies in Caithness, northern Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2235.
Achies, broch 800m NE of dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a broch. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Achies, broch 800m NE of is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM2235.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Cnoc Donn, broch 600m ESE of Dale Farm, Halkirk (2.4 km), Dale Farm,broch 800m SE of (2.6 km), St Peter's Chapel,Halkirk (3.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Achies, broch 800m NE of's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Achies, broch 800m NE of stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.