Substantial broch masonry survives on a dramatic eroding headland, where repeated investigation has revealed a complex Iron Age coastal site.
Quick facts
- Date
- Iron Age
- Architect / designer
- Iron Age community; excavators in 1881, 1935 and later investigations
- Type
- Cliff-edge broch and associated settlement remains
- Designation
- Scheduled monument (SM1418)
- OS grid reference
- HY 22427 16776
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The turf-covered remains occupy a projecting coastal position. Canmore records a thick-walled broch with internal cells and passages, while erosion and excavation have exposed smaller structures and deposits around it.
Its story
The broch belongs to Orkney’s Iron Age settlement landscape. Investigations took place in 1881 and 1935, with later survey tracking erosion. In 2025 University of the Highlands and Islands students examined an eroding structure on the headland, showing that the wider site still holds research potential.
Why it is included
Scheduled status recognises a nationally important broch whose surviving architecture, associated deposits and exposed location contribute to understanding Iron Age coastal life.
What to notice
- The broad mound and visible wall thickness from a safe distance.
- The headland setting that made the site prominent but vulnerable.
- Associated low structures without walking on exposed archaeology.
Reading the surroundings
This is an exposed cliff-edge monument. Keep well back from unstable edges, follow lawful coastal routes and never enter eroding cuts or climb masonry.
Timeline
- Iron Age A substantial broch occupied the Yesnaby headland.
- 1881 Early excavation began documenting the monument.
- 1935 Further investigation exposed elements of the broch interior.
- 2025 Archaeology students examined an eroding structure on the headland.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The official scheduling page provides little descriptive text, so plan details depend on Canmore and fieldwork accounts; erosion means conditions can change.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Brough of Borwick Broch, SM1418 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Archaeology Orkney: Yesnaby 2025 — Recent fieldwork, the eroding headland context and continuing archaeological research.
- Canmore: Yesnaby, Broch of Borwick — Excavation history, recorded dimensions, structural observations and erosion evidence.
Location
OS grid reference HY 22427 16776 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; an additional source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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