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Small cathedral with tower connected

Gaze up at a Scottish rarity. Brechin Round Tower, 25m tall and nearly 5m wide, is one of only two Irish-style round towers still standing in Scotland.

A striking decoration around the first-floor doorway indicates Brechin Round Tower was built about AD 1100, but a date a century or so earlier cannot be ruled out. Originally free-standing, the tower became attached to Brechin Cathedral in 1806.

The tower’s finest feature is its original doorway, more than 2m above ground level, featuring Romanesque carvings of a crucified Christ, a pair of saints and crouching beasts.

Church and tower with gravestones in front
Aerial view of town with houses, trees and a prominent church-like building with tower in centre

Ready for an adventure?

Use a Membership or Explorer Pass to discover centuries of Scottish history and heritage, all while saving money and supporting our work.

Membership

Ideal for regular visitors and heritage supporters

Unlimited annual pass for all ticketed sites plus daytime events

Two adults, holding hands with two young children, walk through a graveyard, with historical stone ruins in the background. It is a sunny day.
  • Unlimited annual pass for all ticketed sites plus daytime events
  • Discount in our shops and cafés (on site and online)
  • Historic Scotland magazine delivered to your door
  • Free or discounted entry to sites in England, Wales and the Isle of Man

Explorer Pass

Perfect for short-term trips and sightseeing

Valid for 14 consecutive days

A family walking across a grassy lawn with the New Abbey Corn Mill building in the background.
  • Valid for 14 consecutive days
  • Entry to all ticketed sites, including Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle
  • 20% discount on audio guides at Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Glasgow Cathedral
  • Guaranteed entry when you pre-book online