Brough of Birsay, Orkney, Scotland
This evening, the focus of blog is the Brough of Birsay on Orkney. This location is a tidal island approached by a causeway. The site features in the Orkeyinga Saga as Byrgisberad, the district of byrgi, a fortification.
This evening, my focus is on the Broch of Gurness, Orkney. A broch is a tall, conical shaped tower with concentric circular walls. The structures date from the Iron Age and are unique to Scotland with the majority of the 500 structures spread throughout northern and western Scotland and the islands. I have visited reasonably well preserved brochs on Skye and Lewis. Brochs appear to be high status dwellings built with defence in mind sitting at the heart of the local community, perhaps along the lines of the role played by stone churches in medieval times.
Stromness Harbour, Orkney, Scotland
This evening, the focus of my post is Stromness, a harbour on Orkney. The name originates from Old Norse ‘cape in the current’.
