Callanish Standing Stones

The Callanish Standing Stones date from around 2900 to 2600 BC, roughly the same era as Stonehenge. Neolithic farming communities on Lewis raised them into one of the most complex megalithic layouts in Britain, a central stone circle with a chambered cairn and four stone avenues radiating out from it.

What sets Callanish apart is its cross-shaped plan, a central ring with avenues reaching out in four directions. The tallest stone stands nearly 5 metres. It also tracks the lunar cycle: every 18.6 years the moon rises over the Callanish hills in a lunar standstill, seeming to walk along the horizon above the stones.

Callanish is about 14 miles west of Stornoway, roughly a 25-minute drive on the A859. The stones are open access all year, and there's a visitor centre with a cafe and interpretation beside them, open seasonally.

Callanish is one of Europe's great prehistoric monuments and among the most atmospheric spots in Scotland. The stone arrangement, the open Hebridean landscape and the distant hills of Harris come together into something you won't find elsewhere. Unlike Stonehenge, you can walk freely among the stones at any hour.