Tappoch Broch

For the last two sites we visited, our guide changed to our current teacher: Dr Huggett (very popular, especially with the graduate students). Tappoch Broch was a fascinating place. We walked through a thick wood to get to it, which glowed with an almost phosphorescent green. When we reached the ruin, Dr Huggett told us that hardly anything is known about this site. Brochs are most often found in the north of Scotland, so it is a bit of a mystery that it is here at all. He also said that most of his colleagues aren't aware of its existence - it is a somewhat hidden and magical place. And I agree. It dates from the Iron age, roughly around 100 B.C. to 150 A.D.

A view down into the broch.

All of us standing on the wall listening to Dr Huggett inside the broch. He told us the wall is about 20 feet thick.

The stairway going into the broch. This stair is within the wall.

Faded heather growing on a ledge inside the broch.

The entrance.

A better view of the stairs.

Up on the wall again.