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Broch of Lingro is a broch, a distinctive Iron Age round tower unique to northern Scotland. The monument stands in Orkney, where it would have commanded views across the landscape from its elevated setting on bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone. This geological foundation, formed during the Middle Devonian period from layers of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone, provided a firm base for the broch's substantial dry-stone construction.
Brochs were typically built between the 1st century BC and 1st century AD, serving purposes that likely combined domestic occupation with defence and display of status. Their hollow-walled construction, characteristic of the type, maximised interior space whilst using available stone efficiently. The broch at Lingro would have been an imposing structure in its completed state, its circular form and height making it visible across considerable distances.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1461, reflecting its significance as an example of Iron Age architecture and settlement pattern in Orkney. The broch's position within the Orcadian landscape contributes to understanding how such structures were distributed and how communities in the archipelago organised their settlements during the Iron Age period.
Broch of Lingro, broch is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1461. View the official record →
Broch of Lingro is a broch, a distinctive Iron Age round tower unique to northern Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1461.
Broch of Lingro, broch 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.
Broch of Lingro, broch 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 SM1461.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Pickaquoy,burnt mound & settlement (2.5 km), Earl's Palace, Kirkwall (2.5 km), Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall (2.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Broch of Lingro, broch'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.
Broch of Lingro, broch stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.