Whilst other brochs in Orkney, like Gurness and Midhowe, offer grand examples of these Iron Age structures, this one at Borwick is a little worse-for-wear. But that only adds to the character of this site.

With the Atlantic Ocean raging behind it, the Broch of Borwick has withstood some severe weather since it was built around 500BC. It can be hard to spot on approach, the weathered stone merging with the greys, greens and browns of the landscape. Nowadays it is only around three metres high, with the structure sloping down towards the edge of the cliff, but it would have dominated the skyline when it was in use. It's thought it could have been up to five metres tall, with a diameter of around seven metres.

It was first excavated in the early 1880s and stone from the site was used to build homes and stores by residents in the surrounding area. Although its use isn't confirmed, it could have been a base for a powerful individual or even a border marker.

It might not have the scale and stature of other brochs in Orkney, but Borwick is found on a spectacular stretch of coastline - the perfect example of archaeology at the edge.

Read our special feature about the Broch of Borwick.