Venue Description

Wander around a site where people lived for more than 4,000 years. There are remains of Bronze Age oval houses, an Iron Age broch and wheelhouses, Viking longhouses, a medieval farmstead and a laird’s house built around 1600. This enduring site is without parallel in Scotland and features in Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Pirate. After touring the site, look out to sea and perhaps spot puffins nesting nearby. 1 to 28 Apr: Daily except Sun 9.30am to 5.30pm (last entry 4pm). 29 Apr to 30 Sept: Daily 9.30am to 5.30pm (last entry 4pm). 1 Oct to 28 Mar: Daily except Sun and Mon, 10am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm). Closed for lunch 12.30pm to 1.30pm. We recommend booking in advance to guarantee entry.

Accessibility

Approach to site Approach to site is down a steep (1:10) 8m long ramp and 150m along a wide grass drive to a level gravel path. The paths in front of the visitor centre are cobbled. Visitor centre Visitor centre has step-free access and a number of interactive displays. There are two steps without handrails down onto the site. Monument The paths around the site are gravel, and bound stone. There are changes of level and protruding archaeology. Some of the iron-age buildings have narrow (500mm) and low entrances. The wheel house is down very uneven stone steps with no handrails. The top of the laird’s house is up a modern spiral metal staircase with a single handrail.

Access Statement

Access Statement Link: http://wwwhistoricenvironment.scot/access

Toilets

The nearest available adapted toilets are about 1 mile away at Sumburgh Airport, ZE3 9UK.

Staff

Information about the staff has not been added for this venue.