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Rhianrivach is a broch situated on the exposed moorland 185 metres north-north-west of Achow in Caithness, northern Scotland. Built during the Iron Age, this circular stone tower represents one of the most distinctive forms of prehistoric settlement found in Scotland, concentrated in the Highlands and Islands. The broch stands on bedrock composed of Middle Old Red Sandstone, a formation of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone laid down during the Middle Devonian period, which provides the local building stone characteristic of structures in this region.
Brochs typically date from between 100 BCE and 100 CE and served as fortified domestic structures, their hollow-walled construction and narrow entrances suggesting a defensive function. The narrow glen landscape surrounding Rhianrivach, with its weathered Devonian geology, would have offered both shelter and strategic visibility across the Caithness terrain. The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under scheduled monument reference SM575, reflecting its significance as an example of Iron Age settlement architecture in the far north.
Rhianrivach, broch 185m NNW of Achow is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM575. View the official record →
Rhianrivach is a broch situated on the exposed moorland 185 metres north-north-west of Achow in Caithness, northern Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM575.
Rhianrivach, broch 185m NNW of Achow dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a broch 185m nnw of achow. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Rhianrivach, broch 185m NNW of Achow 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 SM575.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Swiney Castle, remains of, Achastle-shore (2.2 km), Forse Castle (2.4 km), Latheron, 2 standing stones (3.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Rhianrivach, broch 185m NNW of Achow'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.
Rhianrivach, broch 185m NNW of Achow stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.