The broch stands on a low rocky islet (the "Holm of Hebrista") in West Burra Firth.

[1] Internally four mural cells can be seen, two of which are dumb-bell shaped with short passages between the two halves.

[2] The Orkneyinga saga states of Magnus Erlendsson and Hákon Paulsson: Borgarfjörð, the "fjord of the borg" was so named by the Norse on account of the broch.

[3] It is probable that the reason of Þorbjörn's connection with Borgarfjörð/Burra Firth was its affording him, and his followers a shelter, and a defensive position in the borg, or broch.

[3] The old name Borgarfjörð occurs in a document in the Norse language dated 1299.