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Hillock of Burroughston is a broch situated on the Orkney Mainland, dating to the Iron Age period, likely constructed between the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. The structure represents the characteristic double-walled circular tower architecture typical of Scottish brochs, monuments of considerable defensive and prestige value in northern Britain during this era. The site's location on a prominent hillock reflects the strategic positioning favoured by broch builders, affording commanding views across the surrounding landscape. Like many Orkney brochs, this example provides important evidence for Iron Age settlement patterns and social organisation in the far north of Scotland.
Hillock of Burroughston,broch is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1421. View the official record →
Hillock of Burroughston is a broch situated on the Orkney Mainland, dating to the Iron Age period, likely constructed between the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1421.
Hillock of Burroughston,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.
Hillock of Burroughston,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 SM1421.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including The Hillock,broch 500m NNW of Ness of Ork (1.5 km), Unyatuak,mound 180m W of Bonnyhill,Monquhanny (2 km), Linton, chapel & graveyard 140m ENE of, Shapinsay (2.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Hillock of Burroughston,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.
Hillock of Burroughston,broch stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.