Just a peat bog
The most famous prehistoric stone monument in Scotland spent much of its life under the living blanket of peat which covers much of the islands. By 1857 just the tips of a few stones peeped out of the bog when the island’s landowner Sir James Matheson decided to excavate. Nearly two metres of peat later - the Calanais (Callanish) Standing Stones - the wonderful and powerful monuments from 5000 years ago were exposed.
Towering almost 5 metres into the skies
Four rows of ancient stones radiate outward from a stone circle, forming a rough cross shape. At the centre is a huge 4.8 metre tall monolith looking over a stone burial kist that nestles within the circle. Standing on a rise overlooking fresh and salt water lochs dotted with tiny islands, the site dominates its landscape.
Older than the Pyramids of Egypt
Long before the pyramids of Egypt were built, the northern and western isles of Scotland were a centre of sophisticated monumental building which radiated out and south to influence later monuments such as Stonehenge. These stones of 300 million year old Lewisian gneiss - some of the oldest rock on the planet - were chosen, hauled, and precisely placed by our Neolithic ancestors using only stone tools, strength and great skill. It is an awe-inspiring place.
Shrouded in mystery
The Calanais (Callanish) Standing Stones was, and is, a place of power, a very special place and one that must be experienced. The sense of its importance is increased when we realise that there are at least 15 other stone circles and standing stones nearby. We do not know why it was built or what rituals and activities went on there. Pottery and other finds show that this was a thriving and sophisticated society and that these islands have been the centre of a wider culture that traded by sea. Perhaps it was a kind of a place to come close to the gods, a place of ceremony, a place to watch the movements of the moon and stars?
These Calanais (Callanish) monuments will always be for the awe-struck visitor to ponder and dream.
Calanais Visitor Centre 2025/2026
Calanais Visitor Centre will reopen in Spring 2026 following a major redevelopment. This transformed space will welcome visitors to the stones with much-improved facilities, including a new exhibition exploring the dramatic history of the Neolithic monument. Guests can also enjoy a new café and a shop stocking items that showcase the islands' diverse range of artists and makers.
Updates on opening date and the project's progress are available on the website and Facebook page of Calanais Visitor Centre.
Please note: Until the centre reopens in spring 2026, there is no parking or access to the stones via the visitor centre site. We advise cars to park on the shore road and then walk up the hill following the signs to the stones. Note, the hill is steep and the road is not suitable for coaches
Public Transport Info:
To travel from Stornoway to the Calanais (Callanish) Standing Stones by public transport, you can take the W2 bus. Stornoway Bus Station is located near the ferry terminal and the phone number is 01851 704327. Please check with the bus station for the latest information before your trip, as schedules may vary or change (or visit the website Traveline Scotland https://www.travelinescotland.com). Remember that while public transport is available, services may be limited compared to urban areas. Do plan your journey in advance and allow extra time for connections or potential delays.
