SCOTLAND is home to hundreds of fascinating archaeological sites that allow us to delve back thousands of years into the past.

One such place is Skara Brae in Orkney - a 5000-year-old neolithic settlement that was uncovered during a terrible storm in 1850.

The location is said to be one of the "best-preserved" sites in Europe and paints a remarkable picture of life during this time.

Skara Brae is located on the western side of the Orkney mainland (Image: Tripadvisor) Skara Brae would have been home to a variety of people, including farmers, hunters and fishermen.

According to Historic Environment Scotland, it is "the best-preserved group of prehistoric houses in all of Western Europe" and contains a number of fascinating artefacts such as gaming dice, tools and jewellery.

Skara Brae features nine surviving homes (Image: Tripadvisor) Of the nine surviving homes in this "extraordinary" Scottish village, all but one can be seen from the path going through the settlement.

The homes are said to be equipped with "fitted" furniture made from flat stone slabs set into large mounds of midden.

Each of the houses features a single room with a floor space of around 40sq m. Inside, there are box beds, central hearths and small tanks built into the floors.

Skara Brae is part of a Unesco World Heritage Site known as the Heart of Neolithic Orkney (Image: Tripadvisor)

It currently remains unknown why life at the village ended in around 2500 BCE. Some have argued that a huge sandstorm covered the houses while others remain convinced that the depopulation of the site was a gradual process.

As the settlement fell into decline, the construction of new sites such as the Stones of Stenness Circle and Henge began to take place across Orkney.

The site is popular with visitors from across the world (Image: Tripadvisor)

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The archaeological site, which contains one fully reconstructed home, is a favourite spot for those visiting the area.

One user on Tripadvisor said: "What a stunning place to visit! The history goes back 5000 years but was only discovered in the 19th century.

"We hit on a glorious day which made it extra special. The beach alongside is stunning in the sun!"

Another added: "Being able to see the ancient dwellings up close and to touch these aged artefacts was beyond any words I could conjure to describe our visit!"

A third recommended the evening tour, writing that it is "well worth" the expense.