Experience the Calanais Standing Stones and Visitor Centre ahead of the Official opening.
Visitors are invited to experience the new Calanais Visitor Centre during a special preview season ahead of its official opening later this year.
This preview period offers an exclusive opportunity to explore the centre’s state-of-the-art facilities. During this period valuable feedback will be collected, helping to refine centre’s offer.
The preview season marks an exciting milestone for the project, as tickets are now live, providing visitors with early access to the standing stones, enhanced centre facilities and experiences that will support and enrich visits to Calanais for years to come.
Following extensive consultation Historic Environment Scotland (HES) announced approval from Scottish Ministers to introduce an entry charge for visitors to the Calanais Standing Stones in November 2025. The introduction of an entry fee is designed to support the long-term sustainability of the Calanais Standing Stones and Visitor Centre, while ensuring local residents continue to enjoy free access. It will also generate new investment for culture and heritage initiatives across the Outer Hebrides.
Calanais Resident Passes, providing free access, are exclusively available to those with an HS postcode. We will also be reduced price tickets thanks to the UK Government’s Great British Summer Savings Scheme.
The Calanais Standing Stones and Visitor Centre experience is a partnership between HES and Urras Nan Tursachan (UnT); where the monument is a property-in-care managed by HES and the visitor centre managed by UnT.
This multi-million-pound project has been brought to fruition through funding from the UK and Scottish Governments via the Islands Growth Deal, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, alongside key support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. This funding was designed not just for a new building, but also to generate long-term economic and cultural benefits for the entire Outer Hebrides.
Ian Fordham, Chair of UnT, said: “The centre’s transformation represents the collective effort of the local community, volunteer Board of Directors at UnT, and national partners. By working together, we have turned years of planning into a facility that balances the needs of visitors to a world-class heritage attraction while benefiting the people, heritage, and economy of the Outer Hebrides.”
Katey Boal, Head of North Region at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), said: “We are pleased that the new Calanais Visitor Centre will soon be welcoming visitors through its doors for the preview season. The Calanais Standing Stones are an iconic part of the history and landscape of the Outer Hebrides, embodying thousands of years of history and culture. This new centre will enhance the visitor experience and understanding of this special site for visitors now and into the future.”
For more information on planning a visit, including tickets and opening hours, please visit www.calanais.org.
