Clachtoll Broch

Clachtoll Broch sits in beautiful spot in Assynt on the shores of The Minch. It served as a home to a farming family dating back to the Iron Age and is thought to have been built around 100BC but was sadly destroyed by a fire sometime before 50AD. Excavations by Historic Assynt have helped understand how the broch functioned for the residents. It has to be said that they must have been hardy folk, living on this stretch of exposed coastline.

The door to the broch is topped with a giant lintel, preventing the collapse of the walls above. After crouching and squeezing through the doorway, further lintels can be seen above the doorways inside the broch. As you make your way through the main door, you will find openings to chambers/rooms on either side.

There would have been steps inside the walls to at least one further level, where more chambers/rooms would have existed. The dry sandstone walls would have required regular maintenance and have been repaired and altered.

As well as serving as a family home it was also used as a defensive structure. The broch is double walled and strategically positioned with 360 views for potential incoming intruders.

The leader of the local community would have lived in the broch and it would have been used as a symbol to show their status.

The broch stood up to 3m meters high and was probably topped with a conical thatched roof. Looking into the broch you can see the size of the central area. It served multiple purposes including where the family cooked, created crafts and provided an area for social gatherings and important meetings.

Evidence has been found of a hearth which would have provided heat and light, but sadly is probably what was responsible for the fire that destroyed the broch in the end.

To reach the Clachtoll Broch, park in the car park next to the beautiful Clachtoll Beach.

Follow the coastal path north west, heading towards the Clachtoll Salmon Bothy. Make sure you take a look behind you as Split Rock appears on the headland with the Assynt mountains including Ben Mor, Stac Pollaidh, Suilven and Canisp in the distance.

The Clachtoll Salmon Bothy is now used as a museum and not far from the bothy you will find a memorial to the Reverend Norman Macleod. He was a Scottish clergyman and author, who was one of the founders of the Evangelical Alliance in 1847 and served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1869/70.

It is well worth popping your head into the bothy, especially if it's halloween.

You also pass a place a collection of interesting yet scary ironwork. Somewhere perhaps to leave your partner if they misbehave?

Continue along the coastal path as it passes through a field in front of a house, then heads up a grassy bank. Stay on the path and watch out for what looks like a huge pile of stones, this is the broch and its entrance is on the opposite side.

Have fun exploring this amazing place and take time to explore the wonderful surroundings.

It is just over 1km to the broch. Follow the above route, or find on OS Maps.