Callanish Standing Stones

About this place

Neolithic stone circle on Lewis, older than Stonehenge and dramatically sited.

Callanish is often described as Scotland's answer to Stonehenge, and in some ways it's more striking: a cross-shaped setting of tall, thin gneiss stones arranged around a central monolith, standing on a ridge with views over Loch Roag on the Isle of Lewis. Nobody knows for certain what it was used for, though its alignment with the moon's movements suggests it held real astronomical or ceremonial importance around 5,000 years ago. A visitor centre nearby has a small exhibition and cafe, and the stones themselves are free to walk among at any time, which makes for a quietly atmospheric visit in the early morning or evening when the light is low and there's nobody else around.

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