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Smerral is a broch located east of Bunellich in Caithness, Scotland. This Iron Age stone tower was constructed on bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, a geological foundation of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone formed during the Middle Devonian period. The underlying geology would have provided local building stone for the broch's construction, a practical advantage for Iron Age communities in this region.
Brochs are distinctively Scottish monuments, typically circular hollow-walled towers built during the Iron Age. These structures served multiple purposes within their communities, functioning as defensive fortifications, storage facilities and high-status residences. The tower's double-walled construction, characteristic of the broch type, created a space between the walls which often contained stairs and cellular chambers, allowing occupation across multiple levels.
Smerral is now protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM581 as a scheduled monument, recognition of its significance to Scotland's archaeological and cultural heritage. The broch survives as testimony to Iron Age settlement patterns in Caithness, an area particularly rich in such monuments, reflecting the region's importance during this period of Scottish prehistory.
Smerral, broch to E of Bunellich is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM581. View the official record →
Smerral is a broch located east of Bunellich in Caithness, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM581.
Smerral, broch to E of Bunellich dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a broch to e of bunellich. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Smerral, broch to E of Bunellich 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 SM581.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Knockinnon,broch (2.7 km), Bridge of Rhemullen,broch 180m SW of (3.8 km), Ballachly,chapel and graveyard 90m SW of (4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Smerral, broch to E of Bunellich'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.
Smerral, broch to E of Bunellich stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.