Archaeological heritage

The Broch

The word broch comes from the old Norse borg and means fortification, although doubt remains as to whether their purpose was soley defensive. Towering to 13 metres height in some of the best-preserved examples, sophisticated drystane dyking techniques were required for their construction. Brochs are unique to Scotland and these Iron Age stone towers are typically characterised by two concentric circular walls, separated by a passage way with stairs at different levels.

The Applecross broch is one of the archaeological gems of the region. First investigated by the BBC's Time Team in 2006, excavations continue to the present day, managed by the Applecross Archaeological Society and supported by the Partnership Scheme. The Applecross broch lies adjacent to the campsite.

The Lime kiln

The lime kiln is part of a small industrial complex once used to produce quicklime by the calcination of limestone. Built in the 1870's, it made use of the limestone outcrops of the area, and was last used in the 1930's. The lime kiln itself is in poor condition, but it is hoped to consolidate the site under the partnership scheme so that it can become part of a planned Archaeogical Trail. A map of its location can be viewed under the WALKS tab above.

The Ice house

Ice houses are underground structures used to store ice prior to the invention of the refrigerator, although game and venison larders have also sometimes been called ice houses on ordnance survey maps. They were usually built close to natural sources of winter ice such as freshwater lakes. The Applecross ice house used to serve the Estate House, and is a well-preserved example of its kind. It is located on the Arboretum Walk close to the Walled Garden (see WALKS tab for map).