The ruins of Achcoillenaborgie Broch
The ruins of Achcoillenaborgie Broch
At the northern end of Strathnaver Glen stands the ruins of an Iron Age broch. The name 'Achcoillenaborgie' gives a clue to the nature of the site, for 'borg' comes from the Old Norse for fort. There are a dozen or so known broch sites along the length of Strathnaver glen, and they were usually built within sight of each other. From Achcoillenaborgie the inhaboitants would have been able to see at least 2 other brochs, at Sandy Dun and Apigill (now vanished).
The broch walls are 28 feet in diameter, and fully 14 feet thick, with a collapsed entrance on the north side. There are also obvious ruins of secondary buildings outside the broch walls.
You can make out traces of a chamber built into the thickness of the walls on the north side, while there is a circular enclosure a short distance to the south west. A shallow ditch and bank earthwork surrounds the site and may have acted as a outer line of defense.
Achcoillenaborgie has suffered from the passage of time; the walls are almost completely collapsed, and stone has been robbed for local building purposes. Yet enough remains to give a good idea of the layout of the broch.
First you have to find it, though! Bracken grows up around the site, and completely obscures the stonework in Summer and early Autumn. I walked completely around the broch without seeing it, and it was only when I decided to strike off the perimeter path and climb what appeared to be a small bracken-covered knoll that I realised I was climbing the brock itself! Once you climb - carefully - onto the walls, you can easily make out the shape of the broch, and spy the ruins of chambers and secondary structures outside the walls.
The broch is very easy to access of the road from Bettyhill to Skelpick. There is a layby on the main road, with a clear signposted circular trail passing around the broch, and an information panel giving you a bit about the history of the broch and the Achcoillenaborgie area. Achcoillenaborgie is part of the Strathnaver Trail, linking historic sites along the glen. Immediately to the south are Coile na Borgie Chambered Cairns, and a bit further on is Achanlochy Clearance Village.

There's a broch under all that bracken - honest!
There's a broch under all that bracken - honest!
Atop the broch wall, looking north
Atop the broch wall, looking north
Another view of the collapsed walls, looking north
Another view of the
collapsed walls, looking north

About Achcoillenaborgie Broch
Address: Skelpick, Bettyhill, Strathnaver, Sutherland, Scotland, KW14 7SG
Attraction Type: Prehistoric Site
Location: On the minor road to Skelpick, off the A836 south of Bettyhill. Signposted, with a small layby for parking. Open access.
Website: Achcoillenaborgie Broch
Location map
OS: NC713594
Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express


NEARBY HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS

Heritage Rated from 1- 5 (low-exceptional) on historic interest

Coille na Borgie Chambered Cairns - 0.3 miles (Prehistoric Site) Heritage Rating

Achanlochy Clearance Village - 0.5 miles (Museum) Heritage Rating

Strathnaver Museum - 1.8 miles (Museum) Heritage Rating

Red Priest's Stone - 7.6 miles (Prehistoric Site) Heritage Rating

Skail Chambered Cairn - 7.8 miles (Prehistoric Site) Heritage Rating

Dun Dornaigil Broch - 18.2 miles (Prehistoric Site) Heritage Rating

Smoo Cave - 18.9 miles (Countryside) Heritage Rating

Cnoc Freiceadain Long Cairns - 18.9 miles (Prehistoric Site) Heritage Rating



Nearest Accommodation to Achcoillenaborgie Broch:

Nearby accommodation is calculated 'as the crow flies' from Achcoillenaborgie Broch. 'Nearest' may involve a long drive up and down glens or, if you are near the coast, may include a ferry ride! Please check the property map to make sure the location is right for you.

Self Catering   -   B&Bs/Guesthouses   -   Hotels

Nearest Self Catering Cottages

Ben Loyal View, Tongue
Ben Loyal View, Tongue - 8.2 miles
Tongue, Highlands and Islands
Sleeps: 6
Stay from: £332.00 - 904.00
Cottage: HCSU283, Lairg
Cottage: HCSU283, Lairg - 8.8 miles
Lairg, Highlands and Islands
Sleeps: 4
Stay from: £485.00 - 628.00
The Auld Kirk, Melvich
The Auld Kirk, Melvich - 12 miles
Melvich, Highlands and Islands
Sleeps: 7
Stay from: £325.00 - 660.00

  More self catering near Achcoillenaborgie Broch

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Nearest Hotels

The Ben Loyal Hotel Tongue
The Ben Loyal Hotel - 7.8 miles
Tongue, Highlands and Islands
Stay from: £45.00
The Weigh Inn Motel Thurso
The Weigh Inn Motel - 25 miles
Thurso, Highlands and Islands
Stay from: £35.00
The Weigh Inn Hotel Thurso
The Weigh Inn Hotel - 25 miles
Thurso, Highlands and Islands
Stay from: £82.50

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Show bed and breakfasts near Achcoillenaborgie Broch

Nearest Bed and Breakfasts

Sutherland Inn Brora
Sutherland Inn - 36.4 miles
Brora, Highlands and Islands
From: £40.00
Bank Guest House Wick
Bank Guest House - 40.7 miles
Wick, Highlands and Islands
From: £67.08
Smithfield Hotel Dounby
Smithfield Hotel - 52.4 miles
Dounby, Highlands and Islands
From: £110.00

  More bed and breakfasts near Achcoillenaborgie Broch

Nearest Tourist Information Centre ('as the crow flies')

Durness
Tourist Information Centre
Sango
Durness
by Lairg, Sutherland
Highlands and Islands
Scotland
IV27 4PZ
Tel: 01971 511 368
Email: info@visitscotland.com
Web: http://www.visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/highlands/
Seasonal opening
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