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Hillock of Breakna is a broch situated 300 metres south-east of Swanbister House on the Orkney Mainland. The monument stands upon bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, a conglomerate of sandstone, siltstone and mudstone formed during the Middle Devonian period, which provides the solid geological foundation typical of Orkney's interior plateaux.
Brochs are distinctive Iron Age fortified towers that characterise the Scottish archipelago and northern mainland. This example represents the characteristic dry-stone architecture of the period, constructed without mortar. The Hillock of Breakna's elevated position within the gently rolling landscape of Orkney would have afforded commanding views across the local terrain, a consideration common in the siting of such defensive structures during the first centuries AD.
The broch is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1445, reflecting its significance as a rare and well-preserved example of Iron Age settlement architecture. The survival of such monuments in Orkney, where few other contemporary structures remain, contributes substantially to understanding the settlement patterns and defensive strategies of the northern British Iron Age.
Hillock of Breakna, broch 300m SE of Swanbister House is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1445. View the official record →
Hillock of Breakna is a broch situated 300 metres south-east of Swanbister House on the Orkney Mainland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1445.
Hillock of Breakna, broch 300m SE of Swanbister House dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a broch 300m se of swanbister house. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Hillock of Breakna, broch 300m SE of Swanbister House 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 SM1445.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including St Nicholas' Church, settlement and mill, Orphir (1.9 km), Bu of Orphir, burnt mound and mill dam 250m NW of Bu Farm (2 km), Lavacroon, settlement W of Bu of Orphir (2.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Hillock of Breakna, broch 300m SE of Swanbister House'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.
Hillock of Breakna, broch 300m SE of Swanbister House stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.