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Broch of Mousa. Photo by: Swifant- Wikimedia.

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Broch of Mousa

A MYSTERIOUS ROUND STONE TOWER on the Scottish island of Mousa is one of Europe’s finest prehistoric frameworks. It is the tallest of all the remaining brochs in the country, dating back to the Iron Age and standing 2,000 years.

The specific purpose of the Broch of Mousa, which is thought to have been built between 300 and 100 BC, is unknown, but it is thought to have had two primary epochs of use. There was probably a wooden structure within the stone walls at first, which was eventually replaced by a wheelhouse.

It could have been used as a lookout tower鈥攊n fact, the winding stairs to the top of the tower can still be used to take in the view of the broch.

1. Mousa means 鈥淢ossy Island鈥� in Old Norse

This green island is located a mile east of Mainland Shetland. The island is 1.5 miles long and 1 mile wide, with the highest point rising 55 meters above sea level. The island is now unoccupied but it was inhabited from the Bronze Age until the mid-nineteenth century.

2. There is a ferry to the island in summer

Anchored off Mousa Broch. Photo by: Ronnie Robertson- Wikimedia.

From April to September, The Mousa Boat operates a daily ferry from Sandsayre to Leebitton. During the 15-minute crossing, coastal sea creatures are frequently spotted.

As there are no facilities on the island, bring appropriate footwear as well as food and water. Evening excursions require the use of a torch. Please take care not to leave any trash on Mousa.

3. Mousa Broch is only half a mile from the pier

Enjoying a visit to Mousa with its famous Broch. Photo by: Ronnie Robertson- Wikimedia.

Follow a path above the water’s edge (Mousa is a RSPB reserve and the designated paths should be followed to avoid disturbance to wildlife). You’ll arrive at 2,000-year-old Mousa Broch after 20 minutes or a half-mile walk.

Mousa Broch is an Iron Age circular dry-stone tower. It’s shaped like a cone-shaped industrial chimney.

4. Brochs were towers of strength from the Iron Age

Nobody knows why brochs were constructed during the Iron Age, but they were meant to be massive and imposing, dominating the landscape.

A broch required a significant investment in both labor and stone. These were a combination of a fort, a fortified house, and a status symbol. These resources could only be commanded by a chieftain or a united community.

Iron Age brochs were frequently built near coasts or rivers, emphasizing the importance of sea routes for travel and trade. Brochs have been used for hundreds of years.

During the Iron Age, 570 brochs were constructed all across Scotland.

5. Mousa Broch is the finest preserved example of an Iron Age broch in Europe.

Mousa broch has a base diameter of 15.3 meters and a top diameter of 12 meters. The interior diameter of Mousa Broch is only 6m, and the thick walls and small interior made it very sturdy, allowing it to function for thousands of years.

There is a small door just under 5ft tall, and a spiral staircase (complete with a modern iron railing) runs from the bottom of the broch to the top between the outer and inner walls. This can be climbed, and at the top, it is safe to walk around the circumference of the broch and take in the expansive view of Mousa.

The walls are big enough to keep you from falling, and a mesh grille covers the central opening.

Since large flat blocks of local sandstone could be excavated, brochs in the North Highlands and Islands were taller and larger than elsewhere in Scotland. Nonetheless, Mousa is extremely tall for a broch.

6. Mousa broch is one of a pair of brochs

Broch of Mousa. Photo by: Colin Smith- Wikimedia.

The Broch of Burland on the Mainland is the other Iron Age broch guarding Mousa Sound. It is significantly located on an isolated ridge above the Wick of Burland, but it is far less well preserved.

In contrast to Mousa, which stands alone, the Broch of Burland is surrounded by numerous supporting structures.

Were these brochs inhabited by enemies or allies? Were they constructed by the same hands, given the incredible expertise required to build a broch and the similarities in design?

7. It is a mystery why Mousa Broch is still so intact

Particularly since the broch is surrounded by the ruins of a fishing station, croft houses, and walls. Why didn’t the constructors use the stone from Mousa Broch?

Brochs were made of drystone, and the stones were retained together by friction and gravity rather than mortar. As a result, many broches experienced structural damage.

The Broch of Gurness in Orkney was initially constructed taller than Mousa, but after a structural collapse, the broch was reconstructed shorter, and the extra stones were used to build a surrounding village.

There are over 100 brochs in Shetland, but none of them are in such good condition. Mousa is still standing because it was built so well.

The island’s remote location and poor agricultural potential also aided the broch avoid being extorted for stone.

8. In the past, Mousa Broch had three storeys

There were at least two wooden floors inside the broch, as evidenced by two scarcements (narrow lines of protruding stone) to support them. The wooden floor has decayed over the 2,000 years the building has been standing.

During the broch’s life, a wheelhouse was added, but the site was abandoned by 400AD. Inside, 3m of rubble had to be destroyed when it was dug up.

9. There is more on Mousa than just a Broch

Mousa had a population of 70 in 1774 and people lived there until the mid-nineteenth century. There are several crofts, farm buildings at the Knowe, a Norse mill fed by South Loch’s waters, an 18th century fishing booth and the Haa.

The Haa is a magnificent Laird’s House that was built in 1783 near Mousa Broch and is surrounded by a stone dyke. It was constructed for Lerwick merchant James Pyper, who purchased the island and relocated there “to keep his wife from drinking”!

Mousa is composed of Middle Old Red Sandstone beds (400 million years old), and the island’s quarry sourced flagstones for Lerwick’s streets as well as rocks for the broch.

On Mousa, there are huge colonies of seals, as well as many sheep and a large number of sea birds.

10. Mousa Broch鈥檚 walls come alive at night

Mousa Broch at 1am in the morning lots of storm petrels too. Photo by: Ballogi- Wikimedia.

Mousa is home to 6,800 breeding pairs of Storm Petrels, accounting for 8% of the British population and 2.6% of the global population. Many of these birds, known locally as alamootie, nest in the gaps in the walls of Mousa Broch.

During the day, they can be seen through the cracks (the cacophony sounds like purring). On summer nights, they return from the sea with food (avoiding predators by returning at dusk) and trade brooding responsibilities with their friends.

Summer evening storm petrel trips to Mousa are available. Storm Petrels nest in field walls and under rocks on the nearby shingle beach, so stay on Mousa’s paths!