Edin's Hall Broch

About Edin's Hall Broch

Of the handful of brochs in southern Scotland, Edin’s Hall Broch is the most monumental survivor. Its circular stone design is complete with the telltale double-layered wall, about 5m thick, with internal staircase of brochs, which are predominantly found in areas like Caithness, Orkney, Shetland, and the Outer Hebrides.
However, not all is as it first seems. At 22 metres wide it is much larger than most of its northern counterparts, pushing the limits of physics when it comes to how many upper levels it could support. This raises the possibility that Edin’s Hall Broch was inspired by brochs rather than being one itself – perhaps the builders hadn’t even seen a broch.
The “broch” was built within an earlier Iron Age fort defended by multiple layers of earthworks covering an area some 135 metres by 75 metres, a truly huge site. Perhaps this huge scale contributed to the local belief that it was built and inhabited by a giant. A ferocious three-headed giant dubbed ‘Red Ettin’ was also said to dwell nearby, possibly inspiring the broch’s name. Clearly, the unusual nature of this place has inspired stories and speculation for a very long time.