Callanish Standing Stones

Bronze Age stone circle on Lewis that rivals Stonehenge

The Callanish Stones on Lewis are among the most significant prehistoric monuments in Europe, erected around 2900 BC — roughly contemporary with Stonehenge. The site consists of a central circle of 13 stones with four avenues radiating outward in a cross shape, unlike any other megalithic arrangement anywhere. They stand up to 4 metres high, grey Lewis gneiss worn smooth by Atlantic weather over five thousand years.

Unlike Stonehenge, Callanish has no rope barriers. You can walk among the stones, touch them, and sit between them. On a clear morning, with the light coming off the water and no other visitors about, the effect is quietly extraordinary.

things to do sight
A story
The stones were buried under several metres of peat by around 800 BC, preserving them from medieval stone-robbers. When the peat was removed in 1857, the stones were found in almost perfect condition. Nobody knows whether the peat burial was deliberate or accidental.