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Cairn of Sibmister is a broch situated in Caithness, in the far north of Scotland. The monument occupies bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, formed during the Middle Devonian period, comprising conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone that characterises this remote region. As an Iron Age broch, the structure would have functioned as a defensive settlement, its distinctive hollow-walled circular tower rising prominently above the surrounding landscape.
The broch represents a form of architecture unique to Iron Age Scotland, typically dating to the last few centuries before the Roman period. These impressive stone towers served communities in what is now the Scottish Highlands and Islands, offering protection and demonstrating the status and resources of their inhabitants. The geology of the site—with its durable Old Red Sandstone bedrock—provided essential material for construction and a stable foundation for such substantial masonry.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland and remains a significant archaeological record of Iron Age settlement patterns in Caithness. The site contributes to understanding how communities utilised the far northern landscape during this formative period of Scottish prehistory.
Cairn of Sibmister,broch is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM535. View the official record →
Cairn of Sibmister is a broch situated in Caithness, in the far north of Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM535.
Cairn of Sibmister,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.
Cairn of Sibmister,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 SM535.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Olrig House,broch 300m E of (2.4 km), Stemster Hill, chambered cairn 1180m ENE of (3.1 km), Ring Hillock, cairn 280m S of Breezy Brae (3.4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Cairn of Sibmister,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.
Cairn of Sibmister,broch stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.