Dun Carloway is built on a rock on a steep south slope at the height of 50 metres.
It is the best preserved broch in the Outer Hebrides.
The wall of the broch rises on the south side to 9.2 metres.
Only Mousa Broch and Dun Telve have walls that are higher.
The original height of Dun Carloway is unknown.
The broch overlooks Loch Carloway.

The external diameter is 14.3 metres; the internal diameter of the inner courtyard is 7.4 metres.
The walls vary in thickness from 2.9 to 3.8 metres from the south-east to the north.
The entrance is on the north-west side.
The entrance is 75 centimetres wide and 1 metre high.
The walls on this side of the broch do not much exceed the height of the entrance capstone and there are no stones on top of the large capstone.
On the south side of the entrance-passage is a so-called "guard cell", a small side room in the hallway.
The opening to the "guard cell" is 61 centimetres square.
In the interior of the broch there are three additional openings.
The opening on the eastern side, opposite the entrance, leads to the stairs located between the walls of the broch.
The staircase runs along one quarter of the circumference of the broch.
The north-eastern opening (to the left of the staircase opening) gives access to an oval room.
Here are traces showing that there were at least three peat ovens over the centuries.
The west opening (right, after entering the broch) provides access to a room under the staircase.

In the south-eastern wall two large wall voids are visible.
On the north side of the interior protrudes the rock upon which the broch was built.
It is likely that there was an upper wooden floor, as the scarcement (ledge) which could hold such a floor is visible 2 metres above ground level.
Although the remaining wall is higher than nine metres, there is no trace of a higher scarcement found.
This could mean that there was only one floor, or that a different method was used for higher floors.
Dun Carloway is built on a rock on a steep south slope at the height of 50 metres. It is the best preserved broch in the Outer Hebrides. The wall of the broch rises on the south side to 9.2 metres. Only Mousa Broch and Dun Telve have walls that are higher. The original height of Dun Carloway is unknown. The broch overlooks Loch Carloway.
The external diameter is 14.3 metres; the internal diameter of the inner courtyard is 7.4 metres. The walls vary in thickness from 2.9 to 3.8 metres from the south-east to the north. The entrance is on the north-west side. The entrance is 75 centimetres wide and 1 metre high. The walls on this side of the broch do not much exceed the height of the entrance capstone and there are no stones on top of the large capstone. On the south side of the entrance-passage is a so-called "guard cell", a small side room in the hallway. The opening to the "guard cell" is 61 centimetres square. In the interior of the broch there are three additional openings. The opening on the eastern side, opposite the entrance, leads to the stairs located between the walls of the broch. The staircase runs along one quarter of the circumference of the broch. The north-eastern opening (to the left of the staircase opening) gives access to an oval room. Here are traces showing that there were at least three peat ovens over the centuries. The west opening (right, after entering the broch) provides access to a room under the staircase.
In the south-eastern wall two large wall voids are visible. On the north side of the interior protrudes the rock upon which the broch was built. It is likely that there was an upper wooden floor, as the scarcement (ledge) which could hold such a floor is visible 2 metres above ground level. Although the remaining wall is higher than nine metres, there is no trace of a higher scarcement found. This could mean that there was only one floor, or that a different method was used for higher floors.
Dun Carloway