Calanais Standing Stones

Lonely Planet review

The construction of the stunning Calanais Standing Stones began around 5000 years ago, so they're about as old as the earliest Egyptian pyramids. Today, Calanais is one of the most complete stone circles in Britain and, unlike Stonehenge, you can wander around the stones and appreciate the undeniable sense of antiquity and power that the stones exude.

Perched on an exposed hill top overlooking East Loch Roag, the 54 tall stones are arranged in the shape of a crude Celtic cross, with the remains of a chambered cairn where the arms cross. In fact the shape is coincidental - the site predates both Christianity and the Celts by several millennia.

The major circle and the avenues of megaliths are thought to have been erected by farmers as a lunar and solar calendar; the tomb was added much later and used for Beaker burials. The site was deserted sometime around 1500 BC, coinciding with a dramatic worsening of the climate of Lewis. The stone circle subsequently sunk into the peat, and was largely ignored until it was excavated by Sir James Matheson in 1851.

The nearby Calanais Visitor Centre is a tour de force of discreet design. Inside is a small exhibition that speculates on the origins and purpose of the stones, and an excellent cafe.