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| The Largest Callanish Standing stone This Stone - pictured opposite is the largest of the standing stones in the Callanish Circle and is is said to weigh around 5.5 tonnes. This stone is located at the start of the burial tomb. The Avenue To the North of the main circle is an avenue. Here is a double row of stones - there are 19 in all. . Single rows of stones can be seen to the east, west and south from the main circle Partially Buried - Under Peat The stones were once partially buried under peat. The lovely peaceful setting and the silvery stones have inspired generations of poets, artists, photographers Observe The Moon The Callanish Stones may have been used to observe he moon First Reference The Callanish Stones were first mentioned it is thought in 1680 by John Morisone, a Lewis gentleman who wrote that the purpose of the stones was for devotion. It really is a miracle that these stones have stood on the Isle of Lewis for thousands of years largely undamaged Local Legends Local legend have it that these stones came about as when giants of old who then lived on the island refused to be Christians - St.Kieran who lead the Christian mission on the island turned them to stone. Another local legend tells how in a time of famine a white cow emerged from the sea and directed the women to take their milk pails to the old stone circle, where she provided everyone with one pailfull of milk each night. A witch tried to get two pails but didn't manage it and so she returned next time with a sieve and she milked the cow dry. After that the cow was never seen at the Callanish stones Why, Calanais was abandoned around 800 BC and eventually became blanketed in peat remains an ancient mystery shrouded in the mists of time. |
Lewisian Gneiss
The stones - made of Lewisian gneiss - the name deriving from the isle of Lewis. The Lewisian gneiss is one of the oldest rocks in Britain and dates back to around 3000 million years ago - are mostly granite like 3000 Million Years Old Rock Lewisian rocks are the oldest in the British Isles, they have been crushed melted and folded for over 3000 million years to form the hard crystalline rock know as Lewisian Gneiss from which the standing stones at Callanish are made of. The Ice Age - Two Million Years Ago About two million years ago the ice age came to Lewis. Glaciers engulfed the land and the sea forming the smooth rocky landscape you can see today. |
The Iron Age Broch at Carloway in The Western Isles a stunning example of a broch. The broch was a structure built as a means of defence. The Carloway broch was probably built for either a tribal leader or at least for a really important member of the community...... |
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Amhuinnsuidhe Castle - Isle of Harris - Western Isles - This lovely Scottish castle sits by the river and has played quite a part in Scottish history. The castle was built in the 1860's has quite a history. It is now owned by the residents of North Harris and Ian Scarr-Hall....... |
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The Bridge to Nowhere - Isle of Lewis - Western Isles - Outer Hebrides. The bridge to nowhere at Garry. The road after the bridge was meant to run from Tolsta - to Ness. The Bridge was so named because today the bridge does actually lead nowhere at all - once over the bridge - there is just a "kind of rough path" which runs a mile or so along the clifftops petering out to the moorland........ |
