Caithness Broch Centre

The Caithness Broch Centre stands in Auckengill, a small hamlet beside the main road from Wick to John o’ Groats. It occupies the old school building, marking the spot where visitors learn about the Iron Age round towers called brochs. These drystone structures once dotted the landscape of northern Scotland, with Caithness holding the highest concentration. The centre displays artefacts recovered from local brochs, including tools, pottery, stone lamps and gaming pieces. A scale model of the nearby Nybster Broch helps explain how these Iron Age towers were built and used. Visitors also find reconstructions of a Viking settlement and a longship, linking the area’s later Scandinavian past to its earlier inhabitants. The museum hosts the annual Northlands Festival, blending Scottish and Scandinavian traditions. Outside, the quiet coastal setting contrasts with the busy Iron Age and Viking stories inside. The centre’s displays and models bring to life the region’s ancient architectural heritage.