Eilean Sgarastaigh

The Calanais (Callanish) Stones are situated on the western coast of the island of Leodhas (Lewis) in na h-Eileanan an Iar (the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides). Their remote location has probably helped with preventing their destruction in earlier times. There are three groups of stones (I, II and III) in the immediate vicinity, with a further seventeen (IV to VIII, VIIIa to XIX) labelled sites and numerous others with no Roman numeral suffix. Of these multitude of sites the first group is the most extensive, famous and important. It is estimated, as a result of excavation, that the stones were set in place between 2900 and 2600 BC - or nearly five thousand years ago. This means that they predate the main ring at Stonehenge, and are slightly older than the Great Pyramid at Giza, for example. This date places them in the Neolithic (New Stone Age) period. Calanais / Callanish I - Clachan Chalanais or Tursachan Chalanais Calanais I is more complex than most surviving stone rings (which tend to be simply circular) as, looking down on it from above, it appears more like a Celtic Cross - i.e. a cross with a circle around the intersection point. It is not yet ascertained whether the cross and the circle were erected at the same time, or the cross added later. At the heart of the stones was a tomb, long since opened and emptied; but this tomb is thought to be a later addition, so was not the original reason for the stones. Bronze Age (which immediately followed the Neolithic) remnants found nearby, indicate that the site continued in use for centuries, but it was eventually abandoned, and between 1000BC and 500BC became enveloped in a peat mound, such that their significance was not apparent for most of the modern era. It was not until the peat was removed in 1857 that their importance and grandeur was appreciated. see NB2133 : Calanais / Callanish I - General View see also Link and Link Calanais / Callanish II - Cnoc Ceann a' Gharaidh The least extensive of the three groups of stones, Calanais II contains just five stones from what is thought to be an original ten stones with an 11th outlying stone. They are arranged in a slightly flattened circle (an ellipse) with major/minor axes of 21/19m (69/62 ft) They are of a similar date to Calanais I see NB2232 : Calanais / Callanish II see also Link and Link Calanais / Callanish III - Cnoc Filibhir Bheag Calanais III is more extensive than CII having seventeen extant stones. These are arranged as two concentric ellipses. They are a short walk over marshy ground from CII and are the first group to be encountered when driving westwards to Callanish. see NB2232 : Calanais / Callanish III - General View see also Link and Link Calanais IV to Calanais XIX This is a list of the other seventeen (17 rather than 16 as there is VIII and VIIIa) "Calanais / Callanish" sites - some quite some distance from I, II and III I have tried to find map references, photos and hyperlinks for each site, but I have not personally verified any of the following: IV - Ceann Hulavig (stone circle) NB22993041 - see NB2330 : Stone Circle at Ceann Hulavig (Callanish IV), Link (Photo) and Link V - Garynahine, Àirigh nam Bidearan (stone alignment) NB23442988 see Link (Photo) and Link VI - Cùl a' Chleit (stone circle) NB24663034 see Link (Photos) and Link VII - Cnoc Dubh (aka Cnoc a' Bhotha) NB23203019 (ancient shieling) - see Link (Photo) and Link VIII - Tursachan (semicircular cliff-top monument on Great Berneray) NB16443425 see NB1634 : Standing Stones, Link (Photo) and Link VIIIa - Àird a' Chaolais (standing stone) facing Great Bernera NB16483407 (?) see Link IX - Àirigh nam Bidearan (recumbent stones) NB23382975 see Link (Photo) and Link X - Na Dromannan {Druim Nan Eun} (Cnoc a Charnain Mhoir & Bhig) (stone piles & quarry) NB22973362 see Link (Photo) and Link XI - Beinn Bheag (various stones) NB22233569 see Link and Link XII - Stonefield (Breascleit) (standing stone(s)) NB21553496 see Link (Photo) and Link see also NB2134 : Breascleit Cairn XIII - Sgeir nan Each (stone setting) NB215341 {not shown on OS maps} see Link XIV - Cnoc Sgeir na h-Uidhe (stones) NB22773298 {opposite side of A858 to Cal.III} see Link (Photo) and Link XV - Àirigh Mhaoldonuich (standing stone) NB17753458 see Link XVI - Cliacabhadh (standing stone + other stones) NB213338 {North of Calanais village, not shown on OS maps} see Link and Link XVII - Druim na h-Aon Choich (standing stone?) NB23703191 see Link (Photo) and Link XVIII - Loch Crogach (standing stone ?) NB24402923 see Link XIX - Buaile Chruaidh (standing stone ?) NB21813314 see Link (Photo) and Link

The Calanais (Callanish) Stones are situated on the western coast of the island of Leodhas (Lewis) in na h-Eileanan an Iar (the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides). Their remote location has probably helped with preventing their destruction in earlier times. There are three groups of stones (I, II and III) in the immediate vicinity, with a further seventeen (IV to VIII, VIIIa to XIX) labelled sites and numerous others with no Roman numeral suffix. Of these multitude of sites the first group is the most extensive, famous and important. It is estimated, as a result of excavation, that the stones were set in place between 2900 and 2600 BC - or nearly five thousand years ago. This means that they predate the main ring at Stonehenge, and are slightly older than the Great Pyramid at Giza, for example. This date places them in the Neolithic (New Stone Age) period. Calanais / Callanish I - Clachan Chalanais or Tursachan Chalanais Calanais I is more complex than most surviving stone rings (which tend to be simply circular) as, looking down on it from above, it appears more like a Celtic Cross - i.e. a cross with a circle around the intersection point. It is not yet ascertained whether the cross and the circle were erected at the same time, or the cross added later. At the heart of the stones was a tomb, long since opened and emptied; but this tomb is thought to be a later addition, so was not the original reason for the stones. Bronze Age (which immediately followed the Neolithic) remnants found nearby, indicate that the site continued in use for centuries, but it was eventually abandoned, and between 1000BC and 500BC became enveloped in a peat mound, such that their significance was not apparent for most of the modern era. It was not until the peat was removed in 1857 that their importance and grandeur was appreciated. see NB2133 : Calanais / Callanish I - General View see also Link and Link Calanais / Callanish II - Cnoc Ceann a' Gharaidh The least extensive of the three groups of stones, Calanais II contains just five stones from what is thought to be an original ten stones with an 11th outlying stone. They are arranged in a slightly flattened circle (an ellipse) with major/minor axes of 21/19m (69/62 ft) They are of a similar date to Calanais I see NB2232 : Calanais / Callanish II see also Link and Link Calanais / Callanish III - Cnoc Filibhir Bheag Calanais III is more extensive than CII having seventeen extant stones. These are arranged as two concentric ellipses. They are a short walk over marshy ground from CII and are the first group to be encountered when driving westwards to Callanish. see NB2232 : Calanais / Callanish III - General View see also Link and Link Calanais IV to Calanais XIX This is a list of the other seventeen (17 rather than 16 as there is VIII and VIIIa) "Calanais / Callanish" sites - some quite some distance from I, II and III I have tried to find map references, photos and hyperlinks for each site, but I have not personally verified any of the following: IV - Ceann Hulavig (stone circle) NB22993041 - see NB2330 : Stone Circle at Ceann Hulavig (Callanish IV), Link (Photo) and Link V - Garynahine, Àirigh nam Bidearan (stone alignment) NB23442988 see Link (Photo) and Link VI - Cùl a' Chleit (stone circle) NB24663034 see Link (Photos) and Link VII - Cnoc Dubh (aka Cnoc a' Bhotha) NB23203019 (ancient shieling) - see Link (Photo) and Link VIII - Tursachan (semicircular cliff-top monument on Great Berneray) NB16443425 see NB1634 : Standing Stones, Link (Photo) and Link VIIIa - Àird a' Chaolais (standing stone) facing Great Bernera NB16483407 (?) see Link IX - Àirigh nam Bidearan (recumbent stones) NB23382975 see Link (Photo) and Link X - Na Dromannan {Druim Nan Eun} (Cnoc a Charnain Mhoir & Bhig) (stone piles & quarry) NB22973362 see Link (Photo) and Link XI - Beinn Bheag (various stones) NB22233569 see Link and Link XII - Stonefield (Breascleit) (standing stone(s)) NB21553496 see Link (Photo) and Link see also NB2134 : Breascleit Cairn XIII - Sgeir nan Each (stone setting) NB215341 {not shown on OS maps} see Link XIV - Cnoc Sgeir na h-Uidhe (stones) NB22773298 {opposite side of A858 to Cal.III} see Link (Photo) and Link XV - Àirigh Mhaoldonuich (standing stone) NB17753458 see Link XVI - Cliacabhadh (standing stone + other stones) NB213338 {North of Calanais village, not shown on OS maps} see Link and Link XVII - Druim na h-Aon Choich (standing stone?) NB23703191 see Link (Photo) and Link XVIII - Loch Crogach (standing stone ?) NB24402923 see Link XIX - Buaile Chruaidh (standing stone ?) NB21813314 see Link (Photo) and Link

The Calanais Standing Stones (or Callanish in its anglicised form) is a cruciform shaped stone circle near the village of Callanish (Gaelic: Calanais) on the west coast of Lewis. Erected 5000 years ago, in the late Neolithic era, they predate England’s famous Stonehenge monument. There is much mystery surrounding their inception, no one knows why the standing stones at Calanais were erected, but they were an important place for ritual activity for at least 2,000 years. The stones are all of the same rock type, namely the local Lewisian gneiss. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland. There is The Calanais Stones Visitor Centre operated by Urras Nan Tursachan (The Standing Stones Trust).

The Calanais Standing Stones (or Callanish in its anglicised form) is a cruciform-shaped stone circle near the village of Callanish (Gaelic: Calanais) on the west coast of Lewis. These standing stones at Calanais were erected more than 5000 years ago during the late Neolithic era, making them older than England's famous Stonehenge monument. There is still much mystery surrounding their creation and the reason behind their construction remains unknown. However, the stones have been identified as a significant site for ritual activity for over 2000 years (Link Historic Environment Scotland). All of the stones are of the same type of rock, which is the Lewisian gneiss that is found in the local area. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland. There is The Calanais Stones Visitor Centre operated by Urras Nan Tursachan (The Standing Stones Trust).

Callanish (Scottish Gaelic: Calanais) is a township on the western side of the Isle of Lewis, it is on a headland jutting into Loch Roag, a sea loch 13 miles west of Stornoway.

The Calanais Standing Stones (or Callanish in its anglicised form) is a cruciform-shaped stone circle near the village of Callanish (Gaelic: Calanais) on the west coast of Lewis. Erected 5000 years ago, in the late Neolithic era, they predate England’s famous Stonehenge monument. There is much mystery surrounding their inception, no one knows why the standing stones at Calanais were erected, but they were an important place for ritual activity for at least 2,000 years. The stones are all of the same rock type, namely the local Lewisian gneiss. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland. There is the Calanais Stones Visitor Centre operated by Urras nan Tursachan (The Standing Stones Trust).

The Calanais Standing Stones (or Callanish in its anglicised form) is a cruciform-shaped stone circle near the village of Callanish (Gaelic: Calanais) on the west coast of Lewis. These standing stones at Calanais were erected more than 5000 years ago during the late Neolithic era, making them older than England's famous Stonehenge monument. There is still much mystery surrounding their creation and the reason behind their construction remains unknown. However, the stones have been identified as a significant site for ritual activity for over 2000 years (Link Historic Environment Scotland). All of the stones are of the same type of rock, which is the Lewisian gneiss that is found in the local area. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland (Scheduled Monument SM90054 Link ). There is the Calanais Stones Visitor Centre operated by Urras nan Tursachan (The Standing Stones Trust).

The Calanais Standing Stones (or Callanish in its anglicised form) is a cruciform-shaped stone circle near the village of Callanish (Gaelic: Calanais) on the west coast of Lewis. These standing stones at Calanais were erected more than 5000 years ago during the late Neolithic era, making them older than England's famous Stonehenge monument. There is still much mystery surrounding their creation and the reason behind their construction remains unknown. However, the stones have been identified as a significant site for ritual activity for over 2000 years (Link Historic Environment Scotland). All of the stones are of the same type of rock, which is the Lewisian gneiss that is found in the local area. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland (Scheduled Monument SM90054 Link ). There is the Calanais Stones Visitor Centre operated by Urras nan Tursachan (The Standing Stones Trust).

The Calanais Standing Stones (or Callanish in its anglicised form) is a cruciform-shaped stone circle near the village of Callanish (Gaelic: Calanais) on the west coast of Lewis. These standing stones at Calanais were erected more than 5000 years ago during the late Neolithic era, making them older than England's famous Stonehenge monument. There is still much mystery surrounding their creation and the reason behind their construction remains unknown. However, the stones have been identified as a significant site for ritual activity for over 2000 years (Link Historic Environment Scotland). All of the stones are of the same type of rock, which is the Lewisian gneiss that is found in the local area. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland (Scheduled Monument SM90054 Link ). There is the Calanais Stones Visitor Centre operated by Urras nan Tursachan (The Standing Stones Trust).

The Calanais Standing Stones (or Callanish in its anglicised form) is a cruciform-shaped stone circle near the village of Callanish (Gaelic: Calanais) on the west coast of Lewis. These standing stones at Calanais were erected more than 5000 years ago during the late Neolithic era, making them older than England's famous Stonehenge monument. There is still much mystery surrounding their creation and the reason behind their construction remains unknown. However, the stones have been identified as a significant site for ritual activity for over 2000 years (Link Historic Environment Scotland). All of the stones are of the same type of rock, which is the Lewisian gneiss that is found in the local area. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland (Scheduled Monument SM90054 Link ). There is the Calanais Stones Visitor Centre operated by Urras nan Tursachan (The Standing Stones Trust).

The Callanish Stone Circle (Scottish Gaelic: Clachan Chalanais or Tursachan Chalanais) is a cruciform-shaped stone circle near the village of Callanish (Gaelic: Calanais) on the west coast of Lewis. These standing stones at Calanais were erected more than 5000 years ago during the late Neolithic era, making them older than England's famous Stonehenge monument. There is still much mystery surrounding their creation and the reason behind their construction remains unknown. However, the stones have been identified as a significant site for ritual activity for over 2000 years (Link Historic Environment Scotland). All of the stones are of the same type of rock, which is the Lewisian gneiss that is found in the local area. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland (Scheduled Monument SM90054 Link ). There is the Calanais Stones Visitor Centre operated by Urras nan Tursachan (The Standing Stones Trust).

At the northern end of the stones. The Callanish Stone Circle (Scottish Gaelic: Clachan Chalanais or Tursachan Chalanais) is a cruciform-shaped stone circle near the village of Callanish (Gaelic: Calanais) on the west coast of Lewis. These standing stones at Calanais were erected more than 5000 years ago during the late Neolithic era, making them older than England's famous Stonehenge monument. There is still much mystery surrounding their creation and the reason behind their construction remains unknown. However, the stones have been identified as a significant site for ritual activity for over 2000 years (Link Historic Environment Scotland). All of the stones are of the same type of rock, which is the Lewisian gneiss that is found in the local area. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland (Scheduled Monument SM90054 Link ). There is the Calanais Stones Visitor Centre operated by Urras nan Tursachan (The Standing Stones Trust).

The Callanish Stone Circle (Scottish Gaelic: Clachan Chalanais or Tursachan Chalanais) is a cruciform-shaped stone circle near the village of Callanish (Gaelic: Calanais) on the west coast of Lewis. These standing stones at Calanais were erected more than 5000 years ago during the late Neolithic era, making them older than England's famous Stonehenge monument. There is still much mystery surrounding their creation and the reason behind their construction remains unknown. However, the stones have been identified as a significant site for ritual activity for over 2000 years (Link Historic Environment Scotland). All of the stones are of the same type of rock, which is the Lewisian gneiss that is found in the local area. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland (Scheduled Monument SM90054 Link ). There is the Calanais Stones Visitor Centre operated by Urras nan Tursachan (The Standing Stones Trust).

Often in this type of country, getting up onto a bit of high ground reveals a lochan or just a little pool to add a bit of interest. Not here. The high ground is on the lower slopes of Beinn Sgarastaigh, but with a summit height of 98 m, and difficult navigation through peat hags, no one is likely to get excited about it.

A thin bank of cloud over the sea. Looking northeast from the B8059 near Lundale.

Looking east towards Callanish, across Loch Ròg.