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Achorn is a broch situated 200 metres north-west of the township in Caithness, northern Scotland. This Iron Age stone tower forms part of the distinctive broch tradition of northern Britain, dating to the later first millennium BC. The monument stands on bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, a combination of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone laid down during the Middle Devonian period, which would have provided accessible stone for the broch's construction. The local geology of mixed sedimentary deposits is typical of Caithness, where such material was quarried for many Iron Age structures across the region.
The broch at Achorn represents the concentrated architectural ambition of its builders, with walls originally rising substantially to create a distinctive hollow-walled circular tower. Brochs served varied functions including defensive strongholds, high-status residences, and communal gathering places for Iron Age communities. The survival of Achorn among Caithness's notable broch population provides evidence of the sophisticated building techniques employed in the far north during the Iron Age.
The site is now protected by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument under reference SM511, ensuring its long-term preservation as an important archaeological record of Iron Age settlement and social organisation in the Scottish Highlands.
Achorn, broch 200m NW of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM511. View the official record →
Achorn is a broch situated 200 metres north-west of the township in Caithness, northern Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM511.
Achorn, broch 200m NW 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.
Achorn, broch 200m NW 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 SM511.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Rinsary, broch and post-medieval farmstead 300m SSW of, Berriedale (7.4 km), Cnoc Fionn,hut circle 250m SW of (7.7 km), Langwell Castle or Achastle,230m E of Langwell House (8 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Achorn, broch 200m NW 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.
Achorn, broch 200m NW of stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.