Look out for the notable Westray residences of Brough Farm and Cleaton House to the southeast of the village. Brough House sits in a commanding position below the prominent Kirk on the horizon. It is the main dwelling house for the large estate of Brough. It was built around the end of the 1700’s, early 1800’s as a typical ‘Haa House’ which is a Lairds house of the time, in a similar style to Carrick House in Eday. Along the shore is a row of cottages called ‘Broughton’ where crofters from the estate were resettled after the ‘squaring of the land’. Cleaton House is more clearly seen from the boat as it’s whitewashed. It is a mansion built for James Stewart of Brough, who unfortunately didn’t live to see it completed.
Pierowall, Brough, Cleat - shown on this map by Murdoch Mackenzie, drawn in 1750 of the North west coast of Orkney - Reproduced with permission of National Library of Scotland
Gill Pier - Westray - courtesy of Orkney Library & Archive, Mailboat leaving Gill Pier Westray - Orkney Library & archive
Brough House - courtesy of Ann Rendall
As you leave Pierowall, spare a moment to think of the marine life beneath the waves. A Westray Youth Club workshop in 2022 looked at some of the imaginary lives of Westray's sea creatures - check out the video here:
