Stacks of Birds

Iron Age forts or brochs in Shetland were often named brough or burgh, burra or burgi. Stacks that resemble fortifications may have similar associations. A few miles apart on South Mainland are (above) Burgi Ayre, Mousa, and (below) Burgi Stacks, Ness of Ireland. The former gives a drying place for shags in the summer sunshine; the latter is often storm lashed as it faces the Atlantic Ocean.

Scottish Islands Explorer - finds forts fascinating