Why You'd be Crazy Not to visit this Iron Age Broch
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ส.ค. 2022
- Mousa Broch is a simply astounding remnant of Iron Age Shetland islands and the best surviving brochs of Scotland. Scottish history tour guide, Bruce Fummey, takes you on a trip sponsored by @Promote Shetland to the best preserved broch in Scotland, located on the island of Mousa in Shetland
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Videography by Matt Ward at www.visualsofscotland.co.uk
Scotland History Tours is here for people who want to learn about Scottish history and get ideas for Scottish history tours. I try to make videos which tell you tales from Scotland's past and give you information about key dates in Scottish history and historical places to visit in Scotland. Not all videos are tales from Scotland's history, some of them are about men from Scotland's past or women from Scotland's past. Basically the people who made Scotland. From April 2020 onward I've tried to give ideas for historic days out in Scotland. Essentially these are days out in Scotland for adults who are interested in historical places to visit in Scotland.
As a Scottish history tour guide people ask: Help me plan a Scottish holiday, or help me plan a Scottish vacation if your from the US. So I've tried to give a bit of history, but some places of interest in Scotland as well.
Other places you'd be crazy not to visit th-cam.com/video/VB2jRL_DqKM/w-d-xo.html
👍🏻😎❤
Keep trying to persuade Mrs C to come North of Hadrians wall...slainte....E
You're so English , the DNA doesn't lie🤣😂🤣
Gonna read Black and Blue tonight.
I’m re-reading all the Rebus books in order.
Book number 8 is Black and Blue.
@@eamonnclabby7067 She'd be crazy not to at least explore SOME part north of Hadrian's Wall. What's her objection? Too far?
I think they were winter shelters. Like great halls. People would have their own house until harvest but share a dwelling in winter to conserve heat and save fuel. The two layers would trap heat. The bottom floor would keep animals safe. When the back of winter was broken people would return to their homes and prepare to plant spring crops. Does that make sense?
That makes a lot of sense, kind of like the Norse with there Great Halls.
Yes, just the heat from the animals and decomposing material would keep the place warm enough.
That was my random thought assumption. I just pulled it out of my …. With no real knowledge at all… In fact I didn’t even know that is what great halls were used for or that such buildings existed.
It just felt natural as an explanation immediately
I've thought about this for a bit, the two layers wouldn't hold heat because they are stone, but the two layers would brake up the wind.
@@graemedalgleish8944 stone is like liquid tikes a while to heat up but it takes time to cool down. Stone buildings tend to be warm in winter and cool in summer. Just like the sea.
As an Australian of partly Scottish descent, and someone with a deep love of history, this channel is wonderful at bringing the ordinary people of history alive...
This broch is absolutely amazing.. and simply oozing with history.. imagine the stories it held, the things those walls have seen and heard 😯❤. nothing less that stunning
I would describe myself similarly, and I believe it was that Scottish Heritage that contributed to our love of stories told. And Bruce as a master story-teller
@@davidthomas9731 Bruce is a top bloke
That stonework is truly impressive. One possibility not considered: maybe they just wanted somewhere to shelter from bad weather. A broch would have been champion for that.
But you don’t need to build so high for that. A low building is much easier to build and maintain.
As If Scotlands best tour guide is a film star! Well done Mr Fummey.
Got stoned in the klickimin broch in lerwick with my greatest friend sadly gone now staring at stars and drifting through time an experience I'll never forget.
That's cool!
I am from Scotland and I traveled around Scotland when my dad was in the pipe band, I saw there structures and honestly just thought it was a old fashioned silo!
We don't get taught enough about our history, thank you for everything you do.
Here to help my friend
Being a Builder Scotland amazes me. From Edinburgh Castle....who laid those first stones at the edge of certain death???... to the Mousa Broch.....how did they build it??? Genius!
Thank you for another amazing video.
We had bigger bricklayers in those days ;)
Well, it's settled then. There's no way I can see and do all of the wonderful sites and events in the land of my ancestors in a wee vacation. I'll just have to move there 😁. Seriously, thanks again Bruce for the story, well told. I really think you need your own prime time network show. Good morning from America!
Good morrow. Maybe an extended holiday?
@@ScotlandHistoryTours love your passion Bruce! Can you make a video about the decorative stone polished balls found mainly in north east Scotland that date back before 2000nd BC. I'd like your input and get to know a bit more x
@@ScotlandHistoryTours I would love to spend two months. I think I'm going to have to split my trip up because I want to enjoy the Yule season as well as some warmer weather. It will be so much fun in any case.
Yes we visited Shetland twenty years ago this week How do I remember? Well some blokes may take their new brides to the Caribbean islands for a honeymoon, I took mine to Shetland lol
We visited the Broch, and the Norse settlement at the south of the main isle, alongside a few other iron age bits and pieces.
We had a wonderful week up there and would recommend it without hesitation.
Great video as ever, not too many English jokes either 🤣🤣🤣 We are on the borders and my gran was a fierce Sutherland Gunn, so I've had my fair share of mockery, it's worth it for an ice cream sat by the rive in Langholm
Look forward to the next video, hopefully a few more Shetland stories too
Cheers
Don't worry normal service will be resumed in the next video covering St Cuthbert😁
I learned of these a couple of years ago and I was gobsmacked at their construction. This rates at one of the penultimate examples of iron age technology! Thank you so much for this video!
I would love to spend a day traveling with this guy and just listen to his knowledge
Ach Andy he's way more boring than you might think. Just ask his wife😜
@@ScotlandHistoryTours Haha! Oh no lol well, everyone is boring to someone! 🤷🏻♂️ I just have so many questions about things I think your husband is _quite_ knowledgeable in… aaaaand, unfortunately, I’m American. Which means I enjoy a good Scottish accent so if worse came to worse I could always ask him to just read a good book aloud 😂
Thanks so much for the reply. I always think it goes a long way when a channel goes that extra mile to reply now and then. Hope you and your husband keep up the great work, I’ll certainly be here enjoying it from abroad!
Excellent.
Love the Brochs. It's amazing to walk in and touch those places where our ancestors lived their lives.
I was very disappointed at Skara Brae all I could think off was "I want to walk in the door"
When visiting Skara Brae, I had Greek friends with me, a rich historical past.. That walk down the concrete footpath with date inscriptions to the site was blowing their minds.
Wow. This might be one of the coolest things I've ever seen, architecturally speaking. I loved this video. thank you for sharing!
I've said it before and I'll say it again, you should be sponsored by the Scottish Tourist Board mate, brilliant vid, again.
Fascinating. Here in the U.S. we think 300 years in old. I truly must come over for a vacation and see some of these ancient sites. Thank you for the videos.
Indeed you should
@@ScotlandHistoryTours Alright Bruce when you get time , can you look/ do a video on Scotland's national flag? Iv looked into it a tiny bit and it seems the saltire is the oldest flag in the world something over 1200 years old! Cheers
th-cam.com/video/8_UT2HSVinQ/w-d-xo.html
So....in Highlander, McLeod's wee little hoose was a Broch? Hahaha Cougarson. What a wonder to walk and sit in the same place, Awesome.
When I was a kid I got to see many of the wonders of Colorado in the days you could walk into an opening in the mountains at the side with your Zippo and a pack of smokes (dad) and come out with artifacts that were in all the souvenir shops. Got to see cliff dwellings that did not even have signs.
Wish I had the appreciation of that experience as you'd had at that Broch, but twenty years later I was a gun bunny with the U.S. 1st Infantry and felt that awe of who all has walked these steps. Was headed to the top of Munster Cathedral in Ulm West Germany. How many footfalls would be required to wear that stone to the depth that really impressed this son of Kansas.
Love your work.
Bruce, have to say, your speaking about the original owners of the broch and what their thoughts and lives may have been like, gave me goose bumps ! Definitely could feel your strong love and connection to your home land . Its what makes your videos so compelling. Thank you for sharing!
Another fabulous video Mr. F. As a dry stone waller i am totally in awe of the folk who built the brochs. I often wondered if it was a gang of broch builders who toured the country because they all be the same design/shape ? I've not been to Mousa but have been to see the Dun Carloway broch on Lewis. In 2004 a master craftsman waller, Irwin Campbell, made a film called THE BROCH ( A SCOTTISH PHENOMENON ). He and a team of wallers built a part section of a broch near Strathyre village and in the film explains his theories on how they were built, definitely worth a watch if anyone is interested. I'm sure there will be DVD copies still available. AND, read all the Rebus books, love 'em. Watched the TV episodes too, not the John Hannah ones though. Ken Stott was definitely Rebus. Cheers !
I’ve never been to Scotland, thanks to the pandemic, but this will be the reason why now.
Greetings from the west of Ireland 🇮🇪 🏴
Get your Irish corpse over here. And if you play Irish music, bring an instrument! 🎶🎵
@@marklammas2465 well my teenage son is an Uilleann pipe player, he’s still really keen to get the ferry over, and my party piece as such, I’m a former student of the front row dark arts, and still a Jameson’s true believer at weddings and funerals and other such dire occasions.
So yes, I’d be fine knowing I was returning to Kerry a corpse embalmed the traditional Scottish way.
Sláinte!
@@ClannCholmain Aberdeenshire, sir; Aberdeenshire! The good sessions are over here 😃 And well placed for going to that broch! Actually, the session every final Friday evening at the Caledonian in Brechin; there are usually very good Uillean pipers in attendance. Pickle your person there!
@@marklammas2465 you are a gentleman and a scholar and a true believer and a fellow harmless drinker …👏😂
Message copied and pasted into my new ‘Scotland’ note.
@@ClannCholmain Shout me if you two are hell bent on going to this session. I'll make sure I'm there with flutes, whistles, recorders, txistu etc...
1. I'm trying not to regret excluding Shetland from my upcoming trip to Scotland. You are not making that easy with videos like this one. 😁
2. I went to the bookstore today and picked up "Knots and Crosses," by Rankin. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be hooked on this series now.
3. I love these videos. Thank you for making them.
Brilliant
2. I was curious, so checked my local library. Knots and Crosses is one year older than me and in the "Classics" section. Well, now I feel old. Still put a hold on it, I'm in a reading slump.
@@pensword14, the book is older than you are, and you feel old? 😆 No, no, you're not old. You're exactly the right age for yourself.
Meanwhile, I need to put on my cardigan and get a new beaded chain for my bifocals. Haha!
@@lisamckay5058 I work in a library, so I admit the fashion is cozy!
I am just at the age where I say "Wait what? No, wait. Slow the years down! Not fair!"
Ah, Bruce! I pondered those same questions in Skara Brae. What did those ancient ancestors hope and worry and dream about when they closed their eyes at night? Thanks for the preview for those of us hoping to get to Shetland one day!
I fell in love with the grandeur of the broch when I first read about one in The Life of Tana. It is a beautiful and haunting structure where the spirits of the past still speak. We can only imagine the wooden floors like stacked donuts all the way to the top and filled with the daily lives of a close-knit tribe.
Your enthusiasm is catching. Would that we all had a Bruce teaching our history courses!
I look at structures like Broch's and marvel at the labour that went into the construction
Me too
Oh to be able to go back and see it for ourselves! To be able to walk and experience the life that our ancestors experienced! To know where we come from! To be able to tell them how far we have come because they took the time to work together and create amazing things and advance our civilization to what it is today! Just think, if we could all come together today, despite our differences, to work toward a common goal, the things we could accomplish!
Thanks Bruce, cracking perspective as always. We lived in Shetland mid-late 80's (eldest daughter born in Gilbert Bain), so visited Moussa a number of times. As you say, magical.
I'm an American with deep family ties to Great Britain and Scandinavia. I've recently discovered my family is related to some rather colorful characters in history, some of whom I'm ashamed of, others whom I admire. This broch...seeing it stirred something within me; it's always that way when I see pictures of my family's ancestral lands, especially Scotland. Maybe, ages ago, some of mine ancestors lived and worked in such a place, and those memories were passed forward through them, to me. Dunno why, but I'm mighty grateful yeh made this video, Bruce. Please keep up the good work!
You're one of the best storytellers I've come across. What a pleasure to watch, thanks!
Ah thanks Tom
Ha! Love your dry wit. Your passion for history is contagious and SO appreciated. Brochs were also known as Iron Age castles of Chieftains. Shetland is blessed to have you as their spokesperson.
Hey Bruce, do you think people 40+% English walked through that doorway.😂😂 keep up the good work.
WOAH! That's amazing that not only has this brough been preserved so WELL but that they were able to build such a tall structure in the first place(complete with stairways between the walls) by piling rocks VERY carefully and no mortar! I wonder if Shetland may have had more trees when that brough was first built or did they have to import them from elsewhere to build the now-vanished wooden inner floors? And did those stairways have even rope railings to hold onto or did folks just grab onto rocks on the walls (while presumably carrying lit wooden torches for light) ? And how gloomy inside was it with virtually no windows? Was the one outer door built deliberately short to discourage visitors or was the era's average adult height short enough for most contemporaries to comfortably walk through without ducking? So MANY questions (and you brought up some intriguing ones yourself) but thanks VERY much for bringing us along on your tour of it!
Back then Shetland would have been a bigger land mass than it currently is so there is every probability there were trees as the grounds would have been fertile
In the centre there was a main fire for heating they were actually quite good in design for recycling heat i’m sure fire brands would be fixed to the wall on the staircase
Fair to assume the average height was a deal shorter. I don't know about Shetlanders in that period but the average European male was around 166cm or 5' 5" in the Neolithic - so if he's 6' (no idea if he is) they'd have walked under that lintel. Also, ground height tends to rise over time with a dirt floor from building up dirt or from re-laying new stones, so, the 'floor' may have been lower originally.
Also, in a cold, windswept place like the Shetlands, keeping doors and 'window' openings to a minimum is a big part of keeping the structure warm - you sacrifice light but its no contest which is more important, warmth or light, come the winter.
...The double walled structure would serve well to keep heat in too.
Even today you can bang your head going into some old buildings in Glasgow.
Provands Lordship from pre 1500 is one example although the road is higher than it used to be.
I'm thinking the low doorways were likely to place unwanted visitors at a disadvantage, but that might just be my paranoia speaking....🤔😬
Mousavi was always a family picnic trip every summer. I was about 7-12 yrs old and it was just a small open boat with a wee cover at the bow. There were no other buildings at all. I still live in Shetland but haven't been for decades to Mousa. I remember one trip and a young German tourist ended up in amongst the bonnie nests and they were divebombing her. She was screaming and lying flat out on the heather. I must admit we did laugh cos as locals we had all carried sticks to hold up above our heads the birds go for the highest point. There used to be lots of ponies on the Isle too. Re u spkg about the sheep. I rember an old local story about a man who worked in the local councils roads depot. He had retired and was driving someone along a Shetland road and was reminiscing. He said, 'see that road I built that, but will anyone ever remember no, but one sheep!'
In a series of programs about the Scotland I knew, is this one of the Scotland I would have never known but for Sir Bruce. Every moment of this program begs one to come for a wee visit. From Thailand? At 82? Maybe next life? Now a wee bit from Billy Connolly to lighten my evening. Sgt. Brill, USAF (Ret)
Take on the challenge
Spent two weeks in Orkney last month and saw the brochs at Gurness, Midhowe and Borwick. They're fantastic structures and Mousa is definitely on my to do list.
Wow! You are now a film star!! You kept that quiet! Congratulations!
😜
Absolutely Incredible, visited in May, paddled across by sea kayak which felt extra special.....Bruce, you can't do Shetland justice without at least another 100 posts about the place !
We didn't have as much time there as that😂
Even more exciting visiting in the summer at night to see the storm petrols flying around it
I've dreamed of retiring in Scotland and living in a broch for the rest of my days. 🏴💜
Autie Jedi what is the process you have to go through to retire to Scotland? I'm from the USA
Start eating square sausage now. You may be ready to integrate come retiral
@@ScotlandHistoryTours 😄 thats all it takes easy breezy
@@NJRangerGeorge you can live abroad and still collect social security. So once i get to that age i can start looking for a good spot to move to.
(I live in the US too)
@@autiejedi5857 thanks for the advice. My dream is to live in Scotland oneday it will happen. Its going to take me some time too I'm 35 so in my 60s I will be ready to go. Hope your dream come true also.
To answer one of your early questions, the only Broch of which I was aware was Broch Turoch or Lally Broch. Gabalon's heuristic writing does draw one in.
When I was a lad in Broadstairs, there was a Roman (may be Norman) tower within walking distance of our home. My father took photographs of it. From the outside it looks very similar to this broch.
I also noticed brochs in northwest Ireland and on the coast of County Clare. I doubt I'll ever be able to travel back, but I'm intrigued nonetheless.
Thanks for the fascinating tuition.
I wasn't aware of Irish brochs
@@ScotlandHistoryTours Please check the map used in your video.
@@ScotlandHistoryTours I must apologize to you for my mistake. I managed to capture the broch distribution map from the video. I misread the Hebrides.
I won't be teaching land navigation or map reading any more. 😨
I have been to the broch's at Glen Elg and was mightily impressed well worth a visit
I love how you tell little fictional mini-stories amidst your historical telling! I’m an eager, new subscriber! 🇨🇦
I love the brochs, and Ian Rankin's Rebus books! The Caithness brochs are on my list for my next trip, but I may have to extend that to include Shetland as well. Thanks Bruce. 🙂
Brilliant, Bruce! You could write a broch about that...
I can see the utility of the construction. Yes, it can be defensive in nature, but the thick stone walls have offer a natural insulation against the elements. The central fire pit would heat the entire structure, conserving fuel. Were there other structures outside the broch that stored food and livestock?
Aye, that thought had crossed my mind too. The heavy use of stone may also have been a way of building without using too much structural wood, assuming that was a somewhat scarce resource.
Love Rebus, waiting for the next one. Enjoy this series, too.
I'm waiting too. James McPherson on the audiobook
Always a treat to hear your magic words of history. Thank you.🙏♥️🏴
My pleasure
The Picts were feckin brilliant!
I thoroughly enjoyed that, Bruce. So much passion 🌞
Thank you kindly!
Good stuff. Your narrative enthusiasm reminds me of Levar Burton's old Reading Rainbow journeys (that's a compliment).
I'm telling you right now Scotland is the birth place of the west,And one of the oldest markers for modern humanity! Take our arts and documents away but under our land of plenty Scotland will shine through! X
Yer face minded me of the inspiration I felt as I walked into Dun Carloway Broch over on Lewis. Priceless
Och, Seanachie once again you have led me down the Rabbit Hole of what if and "mebbe". You bring history to life in ways that I can relate to all too well. Thank ye. If those damned moths in me sporran will leave off, I'll either send more coffee or something better.
one of your best Bruce. Very evocative.
Thanks John
Thank you very much. Lovely piece of history told from the perspective of the people who lived there and in those times.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks Bruce. Imagination is more important than knowledge and you captured it.
What a marvellous broch. Seven feet think? This ancient things, they're puzzles; mysteries we'll never learn. This'll go on the list after Skara.
I was amazed at the broche on Lewis but this one is wow awesome.
That's one stunning broch Bruce, great video 🏴👍
It really is! The broch I mean
Awesome video very poetic in the broch 👍
Yep, I'll have to visit that one. Just love your presentations, and wonder what your non-Scots viewers make of Scottish humour. Such hilarious interjections.
As an England native I love Bruce's sense of humour, especially when he's having a dig at England! 😅
(Funny, but usually thought provoking too 🙂)
Beautifully done as always, Bruce.
Many thanks!
Last time I saw one of these was in the film Highlander, thanks for another great vlog Bruce.
Thank you, Bruce!
Broch man here. This is one of the best videos Ihave yet seen regarding Brochs and to be quite honest, I dont think I have ever seen anybody speak about Brochs with such charisma and energy. Also didnt you star in the movie Boondock Saints?
I don't even know what Boondock Saints
@@ScotlandHistoryTours Ok Mr. Historian... it's only one of the best movies ever made with people who, well... I mean guess some of them could be Scottish. but that's not the point im trying to make is now twofold. You bear a resemblance to one of the characters and you should watch the movie as it is quite good. Cheers.
I greatly appreciate your videos.very informative.from America
Glad you like them Sandy!
Stunning , simply stunning
Lovely. Those structures are amazing.
They are!
You just make my brain so happy. I love your channel. Have to check the bills, minute I find a gap I'm going to Patreon for the first time. Until that moment, thank you. Thank you so much.❤️
You rock!
WOW! There are so many holes and supports for wooden beams and planking on this one too!
Loved it!
One o’ yer bestest, Bruce. Fascinating.
Fascinating! 🤠💜
I just saw you on the trailer for The Lost King coming out in October! Congrats! Can’t wait to see you on the big screen!
Love Rebus …………..and loving your stuff
Rankin fan here. Not just me, whole family too.
Impressive, defo on my list as well.
Great drone footage!
True dat
Always fun, always educational.
One tries Nick, one tries
Shetland and brochs are on my list of places to visit.
Thanks Bruce, one of the few places I did not get to see .Did see applecross broch, not a patch on mousa .😁
Yes Bruce, I've read many of Ian Rankin's John Rebus novels. Very visceral.
I thought the theory was that they were purely to defend against the climate. The dual walls and cylindrical shape would be incredible insulation and heat circulation.
Funny you should say that we were at one on Lewis this week, absolutely stunning.
Thank you, great video again!
Great video
Thanks! I really enjoyed this episode.
Thanks so much
Beautiful
I AM READY FOR THIS.
Great video. I've visited one of the rare lowland brochs (Edin's Hall Broch) and it's fascinating to see what a more complete structure looks like. Amazing to think these were built by manpower and handtools alone.
Yes this is pretty cool!! He has such enthusiasm it's infectious!!
Husband and I went to Dun Trodden and Dun Telve, near Glen Elg, and they were pretty dang amazing. This one is much more complete and might just be worth the long jaunt to Shetland. Wow and 👍🏻👍🏻! Thank you sir!
Man o man this one took me back. I will always until the moment I am gone remember visiting this broch. It’s truly beautiful and a wonder of architecture. This is exactly why I love this channel.
I'm delighted
Yes, I like Rebus. I sometimes listen to the audiobooks when I'm driving. I also liked the TV programmes.
I would listen to the plays on Radio4 and loose myself in the back streets of Edinburgh.🥸
I took my son to visit scara brae and that was unforgettable...and I think now I will have to go to mousa. I love your channel... your authenticity is really lovely ☺️
THANK U , SHARE SHARE
Another stunning film and subject Bruce, never had an inkling that these existed so thank you for bringing these to our attention, great craic too. 👍🏻😊
I'd say the the gun lovers in the US probably do more hunting and fishing than shooting, just for the record. It's a great sales pitch. It seems like a very interesting place. I've gotten that feeling about the original inhabitants sometimes. Matsumoto Castle in Japan comes to mind, although it's much newer. If you are willing to take your shoes off, you can climb the ladders up to the top. I figured that I was stepping where the daimyo had stepped. The I read that it was extensively restored in 1903. But then I read that the original interior was kept. Whatever, I still got the feeling.
Brochs always remind me of the Nuraghe of Sardinia, both seem excessive for where they are located and we have little idea why exactly they were built.