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Skirza Head is a broch situated 290 metres south-east of Craigwell in Caithness, northern Scotland. This Iron Age stone tower stands upon bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, a conglomerate of sandstone, siltstone and mudstone dating to the Middle Devonian period. The underlying geology has weathered to create the rough, durable stone that characterises Iron Age construction in this region.
Brochs are distinctive circular drystone towers unique to Scotland, typically dating between the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. They feature hollow-walled construction with internal galleries and stairs built into the thickness of the walls, allowing access to multiple storeys. Skirza Head exemplifies this sophisticated architectural form, with its prominent location on the Caithness coast commanding views across the northern landscape.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under scheduled monument reference SM580, recognising its significance as an Iron Age settlement. The broch represents an important phase of northern Scottish prehistory when such structures served as fortified domestic and possibly communal centres for local populations. The survival of Skirza Head contributes to our understanding of Iron Age settlement patterns and building traditions in the far north.
Skirza Head, broch 290m SE of Craigwell is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM580. View the official record →
Skirza Head is a broch situated 290 metres south-east of Craigwell in Caithness, northern Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM580.
Skirza Head, broch 290m SE of Craigwell dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a broch 290m se of craigwell. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Skirza Head, broch 290m SE of Craigwell 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 SM580.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Freswick Links,Viking settlement (1.9 km), Ness Broch,broch near Ness Head (2.2 km), Warth Hill,cairn 2000m N of Freswick (2.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Skirza Head, broch 290m SE of Craigwell'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.
Skirza Head, broch 290m SE of Craigwell stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.