The name comes from a large sand dune washed away in the mid-19th century. Because Skara Brae had been completely buried in sand - on land that had never been farmed - the houses were almost perfectly preserved. Imagine the astonishment of the Laird of nearby Skaill House, around 1850, when he discovered what a gale had revealed on his beach.
Before hiking out to the site, spend some time in the replica at the visitor center. It is an exact copy of house 7 at the site. Standing in it, you can easily identify the beds, the hearth, even the dresser where pots and pans were kept and food kept off the floor. The house is so complete you could almost imagine sheltering in it yourself.
At the site, three such houses are linked by passages that would have been roofed over at one time. The passage continues to a larger space identified as a workshop.
We visited on a blustery January day - so blustery in fact that one of our group had to stay behind lest she be blown away. The stormy, late afternoon sky was rapidly darkening and the sea, less than 100 yards away, was fierce and wild. Perhaps Skara Brae is easier to visit on a milder day. But imagining the primitive people who sheltered here from violent weather more than 5,000 years ago added immeasurably to its impact.
Essentials
- Open daily, summer, 9:30a.m. to 6:30p.m. (last admission 5:45p.m.) and winter, 9:30a.m. to 4:30p.m.(last admission 3:45p.m.).
- Admission charge
- Visitors center with shop and refreshments
- Electric buggy available for disabled access
- Website
