Clickimin Broch

About

Clickimin Broch in Lerwick is one of Shetland’s most evocative prehistoric sites, offering a remarkably complete example of an Iron Age defensive tower. Set beside a small loch, the broch dates from around 100 BC–AD 100 and was once part of a larger settlement. Its thick drystone walls, built without mortar, rise in a powerful circular form that still conveys strength and sophistication. One of the most interesting facts is the broch’s double‑wall construction, a hallmark of advanced Iron Age engineering. The inner and outer walls create a hidden staircase that visitors can still climb, giving a rare sense of how inhabitants moved between floors. The entrance passage, with its bar‑hole and guard cell, shows how seriously defence was taken. Inside, you can explore the central chamber, once roofed and divided into living spaces. Hearths, alcoves and stone partitions hint at daily life—cooking, crafting and communal gatherings. Surrounding the broch are the remains of later outbuildings, revealing how the site evolved into a small village long after the original tower fell out of use.

Lerwick Scotland

Location

Clickimin Broch is an extraordinary prehistoric stone fortress situated on a small promontory in the Loch of Clickimin. Spanning over a thousand years of continuous ancient occupation, the site evolved from a Bronze Age farmstead into a massive Iron Age stone broch tower with an outer ring wall and a grand stone blockhouse gateway. The broch is located at South Road, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0RB, Scotland, United Kingdom. It stands along the southern entrance to Lerwick, nestled on the edge of the Loch of Clickimin. Because of its position on the outskirts of Lerwick, visiting Clickimin Broch puts you within easy reach of Shetland's vibrant capital and nearby historical landmarks. Just a short drive north into central Lerwick leads to the impressive five-sided 18th-century fortress of Fort Charlotte, as well as the world-class Shetland Museum and Archives, which showcases island heritage and prehistoric artifacts. Exploring the Lerwick waterfront reveals the iconic 18th-century sea-bound warehouses known as the Lodberries and the historic Lerwick Town Hall. Heading west brings you to Scalloway, where you can visit the historic 17th-century Scalloway Castle and the Scalloway Museum.