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Stackrue is a broch and chapel located 350 metres west of Lyking in Wasbister, Orkney. The broch, a distinctive circular stone tower, dates to the Iron Age and represents one of the most characteristic monument types of northern Scotland. Built on bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone formed during the Middle Devonian period, the site sits on geology composed of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone that would have provided ready stone for construction.
The broch at Stackrue exemplifies the robust drystone architecture typical of these structures, which served as fortified domestic centres for elite Iron Age communities. Orkney possesses one of the highest concentrations of brochs in Scotland, reflecting the region's significance during this period. The tower's circular design and inward-facing stonework provided both defensive advantages and substantial internal space for habitation.
The presence of a chapel at Stackrue indicates the site's continued religious significance into the Christian period, a pattern observed at various Orkney locations where pre-Christian monuments were later adapted or reused. The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1472, recognising its archaeological and historical importance within Orkney's Iron Age and medieval heritage landscape.
Stackrue, broch and chapel 350m W of Lyking, Wasbister is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1472. View the official record →
Stackrue is a broch and chapel located 350 metres west of Lyking in Wasbister, Orkney. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1472.
Stackrue, broch and chapel 350m W of Lyking, Wasbister dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a broch and chapel 350m w of lyking, wasbister. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Stackrue, broch and chapel 350m W of Lyking, Wasbister 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 SM1472.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Little Barnhouse, mound, 160m NE of (4.7 km), Cummi Howe, broch (4.9 km), Hall of Ireland, cairns 320m NW of (5.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Stackrue, broch and chapel 350m W of Lyking, Wasbister'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.
Stackrue, broch and chapel 350m W of Lyking, Wasbister stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.