Skara Brae

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Skara Brae lies on the western coast of the Orkney Mainland. It is under the control of Historic Scotland.

In the winter of 1850, a great storm battered Orkney stripping the grass from a large mound known as Skerrabra to reveal some of the houses. Because the sand had protected the settlement for over 4,000 years, the buildings and their contents are incredibly well-preserved.

Between 1928 and 1930 excavations were carried out and the remains we see today were unearthed from their sandy cocoons.

Radio-carbon dating in the early 1970s showed the settlement was much older than originally thought, dating from the late Neolithic and was inhabited between 3200 BC and 2200 BC.

Skara Brae is made up of 8 dwellings, linked by a series of low covered alleyways. Every house shares the same basic design, a square room with a central fireplace, a bed on either side and a shelves on the wall.

This Neolithic village - one of Orkney's most visited sites is regarded as one of the most remarkable Neolithic sites in Europe.