Callanish Standing Stones

Callanish Standing Stones - Isle of Lewis visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Callanish Standing Stones' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Western Isles.

Callanish is a complex arrangement of some 50 stones, standing on a ridge above the waters of East Loch Roag in the Western Isles. At their heart is a circle of 13 stones between 8 and 13 feet tall, surrounding the tallest stone on the site, 16 feet high and weighing in at about 5.5 tonnes. Some time later, a stone tomb was added to the centre of the circle.

Extending north from the main circle is an avenue formed by a double row of stones, while single rows of stones extend roughly east, west and south from the main circle.

It is thought that the alignments of the various stones were used to mark significant points in the lunar cycle. The stone circle and the north avenue were probably built before 2000BC, while the three single lines and the tomb added around 1500BC.

There are numerous smaller archaeological sites in the surrounding area which are though to have links to Callanish, yet they are yet to yield their mysteries. Not unlike Stonehenge, the famous site in England, the enigma of Callanish Standing Stones is intricately woven into the tapestry of myths and folklore which enriches the cultural heritage and fascinating history of the Western Isles.