Langdale Broch facts for kids
Location | Sutherland |
---|---|
Coordinates | 58°22′25″N 4°14′08″W / 58.373558°N 4.235564°W |
Type | Broch |
History | |
Periods | Iron Age, Roman |
Langdale Broch is an amazing ancient stone tower built a very long time ago, during the Iron Age. It's a type of building called a broch, which was common in Scotland. You can find this special site in Sutherland, a beautiful part of Scotland.
Contents
Where is Langdale Broch?
Langdale Broch is found right next to a small stream called Langdale Burn. It's also not far from the River Naver, about a quarter of a mile away.
This ancient tower sits on top of a tall, cone-shaped rocky hill. One side of the hill is quite steep, but the other side, facing upstream, is gentler.
Getting to the broch is quite easy! You'll find a wooden step-over (called a stile) by the road. From there, you can walk easily all the way to the broch. Just follow the stone wall around a farm, then go left at the gate and follow the path.
What Does Langdale Broch Look Like?
The Entrance
The entrance to Langdale Broch is on the west side, facing upstream. This doorway is about 4.58 meters (15 feet) long. At its outer end, it's about 91 centimeters (3 feet) wide. It's thought that this broch might have had two doors in its entrance passage.
Inside, the broch is filled with rocks and dirt. This means that the inner and outer walls are mostly hidden from view.
How Big is it?
The inside of the broch is roughly 9.15 meters (30 feet) across. The walls are very thick! They are about 4.58 meters (15 feet) thick at the entrance. On the south side, the walls are even thicker, measuring between 4.88 and 5.19 meters (16 to 17 feet).
From the outside, the broch measures about 18.91 meters (62 feet) across.
Is the Mound Natural?
Experts think that the hill where the broch sits might not be completely natural. It's possible it was partly built by people. Some even suspect it could be the remains of an even older structure, like a chambered cairn. A chambered cairn is an ancient stone burial monument.