Island 35 - Brough of Birsay, Orkney

The Brough of Birsay is a small tidal island located off the north-west corner of Orkney Mainland.  It is accessible across a rocky causeway at low tide.  

 

The island was intensively settled from the 7th to the 13th centuries. The remains of a 9th century Viking Age settlement, a 12th century monastery and an earlier Pictish settlement of the 7th - 8th centuries can be seen.  The site is managed by Historic Scotland and is open from mid June to the end of September.  There is an admission charge.

The island has a lighthouse on its west coast.  It is only 11 metres high but is 52 metres above sea level.  It was designed and built by David A Stevenson in 1925.

Thrift, spring squill, daisies, buttercups and bird's foot trefoil were all in flower when I visited in June 2015.

 Brough of Birsay from Orkney Mainland

 

 Settlement Remains
 

Replica Carved Stone

 

 Chapel Remains

 More settlement remains

 

 Visitor Centre
 

 Geo on the south side of the island
 

 South coast

 West Coast

 

 Solar Powered Lighthouse
 

 Another geo

 Short lighthouse

 Lighthouse

 North Coast
 

 North Coast

 

 North Coast

 Settlement Remains

 Spring
 

 Small Cave