Hill forts · Scottish Islands
Knap of Howar
Knap of Howar — Oldest stone house in northwest Europe.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1 h–2 h
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
About
Knap of Howar is a hill fort in the United Kingdom. Heritage designation: scheduled monument. Wikidata describes it as: "Oldest stone house in northwest Europe". Coordinates: 59.3493°, -2.9108°.
Photo gallery
From Historic Environment Scotland
Discover the Knap of Howar, pair of buildings dating back to the third millennium BC. Visit the stunning site today or contact Historic Environment Scotland for more information.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
The Knap of Howar () on the island of Papa Westray in Orkney, Scotland, is a Neolithic farmstead which may be the oldest preserved stone house in northern Europe. Radiocarbon dating shows that it was occupied from 3800 BC to 2800 BC, earlier than the similar houses in the settlement at Skara Brae on the Orkney Mainland.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
Description
The farmstead consists of two adjacent rounded rectangular thick-walled stone buildings with very low doorways facing the sea. The larger and older structure is linked by a low passageway to the other building, which has been interpreted as a workshop or a second house. They were constructed on an earlier midden, and were surrounded by midden material which has protected them. There are no windows; the structures were presumably lit by fire, with a hole in the roof to let out smoke. Though they now stand close to the shore, they would have originally lain inland. The stone walls of the buildings are preserved; and while the roof is missing, it was likely made of wood and thatched or turfed.…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 59.3493, -2.9108
- District
- Orkney Islands
- Postcode
- KW17 2BU
- Parliamentary constituency
- Orkney and Shetland
- Opening
- 24/7
Sources
- wikidata: Q1776885 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Knap of Howar (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Knapp of Howar 2.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
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Nearby
📷 5Memorials & monuments · Scottish Islands
War Memorial, Papa Westray
War Memorial, Papa Westray — category C listed building-listed memorial in scotland-islands, United Kingdom.
📷 3Islands · Scottish Islands
Papa Westray Airport
Papa Westray Airport in Orkney + Shetland, United Kingdom.
📷 4Museums · Scottish Islands
Holland House, Papa Westray
Holland House, Papa Westray in Orkney + Shetland, United Kingdom.
📷 5Windmills · Scottish Islands
Windmill, Holland Farm, Papa Westray
Windmill, Holland Farm, Papa Westray — category C listed building-listed windmill in scotland-islands, United Kingdom.
Hostels · Scottish Islands
Papa Westray Hostel
Papa Westray Hostel — a hostel in scotland islands.
📷 3Archaeological sites · Scottish Islands
Munkerhoose Broch
Munkerhoose Broch — a archaeological in scotland-islands, United Kingdom.
More places in this region
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Maes Howe
Maes Howe — Neolithic chambered cairn and passage grave situated on Mainland Orkney, Scotland.
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Ring of Brodgar
Ring of Brodgar — Neolithic henge and stone circle on Mainland, Orkney, Scotland.
📷 5Hill forts · Scottish Islands
Skara Brae
Skara Brae — Neolithic archaeological site in Scotland.
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Stones of Stenness
Stones of Stenness — henge in Orkney Islands, Scotland, UK.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Knap of Howar?
- Knap of Howar is in the Scottish Islands, United Kingdom (postcode KW17 2BU).
- Is Knap of Howar a listed building?
- Knap of Howar is officially recognised as scheduled monument listed.
- Is Knap of Howar free to visit?
- Yes, Knap of Howar is free to enter.
- How do I get to Knap of Howar?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode KW17 2BU. It sits within the Orkney and Shetland parliamentary constituency.