Welcome to Calanais Standing Stones and Visitor Centre

Bringing 5000 Years of Mystery to Life

Shrouded in mystery, the Calanais Standing Stones have drawn visitors to this ancient and inspiring site in the Outer Hebrides for thousands of years. Overlooking the beautiful Loch Roag above the village of Calanais on the Isle of Lewis, the sacred wonder of the stones offers visitors a rare invitation to reach out and touch the past.

This Neolithic monument, dominated by a dramatic central stone, is the ideal destination for visitors seeking to experience the rich heritage of this iconic site. Enjoy the ancient beauty of the Calanais Stones and unlock the archaeological history of this wonderfully preserved and sacred place.

Join us and discover the compelling legacy of the Calanais Standing Stones today.

VISIT CALANAIS
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Image Credit: Kenny Lam
Image Credit: Kenny Lam
Image Credit: Grant Hugh Jones
Image Credit: Kenny Lam
Image Credit: Grant Hugh Jones
Image Credit: Grant Hugh Jones
Image Credit: Kenny Lam
Image Credit: Grant Hugh Jones

Explore the Inspirational
Calanais Stones

Discover Your own Stories

The 5000-year-old site is a cruciform-shaped stone circle that has weathered the storms of the Outer Hebrides and today serves as a vivid reminder of our rich archaeological heritage. Mystery surrounds its exact purpose, although much of the evidence indicates that these megaliths were the site of both an astronomical observatory and ritual activity.

Today, these petrified giants offer visitors from around the world a warm welcome. When you arrive at the visitor centre, you can discover the stones at your own pace, learning about their unique history and legacy.

As you explore the mystery surrounding the stones, you’ll find yourself lost in the beautifully preserved landscape of a world-class heritage site. Amid the archaeological treasures and clues to prehistoric life in the Outer Hebrides, you’ll rediscover your sense of wonder as you create your own transformational stories.

Uncover the Mystery

We look forward to welcoming you and sharing our passion for the Calanais landscape. If you’d like to uncover the mystery of the stones for yourself, you can book your visit here. Before you join us, why not explore the history and legacy of the Calanais Standing Stones

EXPLORE CALANAIS

Andy Bro

“An outstanding beautiful and important archeological site. The layout of the stones is very much like a Celtic Cross. The romance is greatly enhanced by the surrounding loch and mountains.”

Andy Bro

“An outstanding beautiful and important archeological site. The layout of the stones is very much like a Celtic Cross. The romance is greatly enhanced by the surrounding loch and mountains.”

A Rich History
for all to Share

A Mission to Protect

The Standing Stones Trust (Urras nan Tursachan) is dedicated to the continued preservation of this iconic stone circle site, aiming to illuminate the past and ensure the future of Calanais. Working with Historic Environment Scotland, the local community and experts in archaeology and archaeoastronomy, we unlock the complex narratives of the landscape and reveal the stories of Calanais’ prehistoric ancestors. In doing so, we protect the area’s cherished Neolithic past and contribute to a flourishing Hebridean present.

A Mission to Protect

The Trust has a mission to research, document and manage the historic environment for the benefit of our visitors, the local community and future generations. You can learn more about our detailed work to uncover the secrets of the stones here.

Be Transformed at Calanais

When you walk amongst the Calanais Stones, the sheer beauty of their positioning within the windswept and wild Isle of Lewis environment is matched by a powerful sense of place and peace. Whether you’re visiting to marvel at their mystery or to deepen your understanding of their archaeological significance, the experience is a truly transformative one.

Shaun Libby
Image Credit: Grant Hugh Jones
Image Credit: Grant Hugh Jones
Image Credit: Kenny Lam

A Visitor Centre for the Future

CALANAIS WELCOMES YOU

Image Credit: Paul Tomkins

Support our Work

The Calanais Visitor Centre is a warm and welcoming place to visit, and key to understanding the history and heritage of the Calanais Standing Stones. It is at the heart of our partnership with Historic Environment Scotland to preserve, document and celebrate this stunning site.

Discover how to support the work we’re doing to preserve the beauty and legacy of the Calanais Stones here or find out how others are supporting our important community work by visiting our Stonechat pages.

Home to the ‘Story of the Stones’ exhibition, the Calanais Visitor Centre aims to contextualise the role the stones have played in thousands of years of Hebridean life and allow visitors to experience, understand and enjoy the stones themselves.

Why not come and visit us in person? You can book your tickets quickly and easily here.

Book a Ticket

Come and Join Us

planning your visit to calanais

When you’re ready to discover the magic of the Calanais Standing Stones for yourself, you can click here for the details you’ll need to make your visit a memorable one. From travel instructions and opening times to local attractions and accommodation, it couldn’t be easier to make a visit to Calanais a key part of your holiday itinerary.

You can find out all about the latest COVID-19 protocols, and the steps we have taken to keep our site, visitors and community safe here.

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Calanais Visitor centre

A warm welcome to all who visit

Pre-booking essential for groups.


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