By Bernie Bell
Orkney Archaeology Society haven’t produced a calendar this year, so we went for ‘Brochs of the North’ – the calendar of the Caithness Broch Project https://www.thebrochproject.co.uk/ instead.
It arrived today, and we are very pleased with it. A broch-a-month for 2021 – no’ bad.

Pics include some of the brochs we’ve already visited, and also, Dun Dornaigil, in Sutherland, which we had intended to visit on the way to Skye for a holiday, last April. The Virus put the kyebosh on our holiday, but the broch has been there for a long time, and will, hopefully still be there when we finally go to Skye for our holiday – next spring?
Meanwhile we can look at the picture, and wonder about that huge, triangular lintel above the entrance.
It might seem a bit early to order a calendar, but I saw it was for sale https://www.thebrochproject.co.uk/brochshop, and I went for it! If you’re planning to give one, or more, as Christmas presents – it’s not a bad idea to order early.
The 12 brochs for the 12 months of the year got me thinking, somewhat fancifully, of the 12 hours of the day, with a broch for each hour. I pictured a clock face, with 12 brochs, marking the hours. This could probably be contrived on a computer, but I don’t know how!
Maybe someone would like to have a go – just for fun!
And my favourite broch? It has to be…….The Cairns , South Ronaldsay, Orkney –

We’ve watched it emerging from the earth. Imagine……
Categories: Uncategorized
They’ve even called October – Brochtober!
And – I remembered this……
https://theorkneynews.scot/2019/10/18/poetry-cornertis-the-season-to-be-brochy/
Broch Around The Clock? Broch On?
OK – I’ll stop now!