A Hebridean Odyssey: Part 14 - Lewis: Calanais I, II, and III

This video is the fourteenth in a series that documents a trip taken in May 2022, in which we visited 16 of the Hebridean islands. This and 4 other episodes (13 - 17) are video diaries of places visited, scenery seen and roads driven on the Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles. This particular video covers Callanais (Callanish) I,II and III.
Who knew there was more than one Callanais? In fact there are several other megalithic sites in the same vicinity, including Callanais II - X. Callanais Stones (Callanais I) are a neolithic arrangement of standing stones. Four rows of stones of 300 million year old Lewisian gneiss radiate outward from a stone circle, forming a rough cross shape. At the centre is a huge 4.8 metre tall monolith looking over a stone burial kist within the circle. Callanais I overlooks Loch Roag above the village of Callanais, dominating the landscape. The stones were erected 5000 years ago making Callanais older than Stonehenge or the pyramids of Egypt. It is truly an awe-inspiring place.
Callanais II and III are a few minutes’ walk from each other on hillocks overlooking Loch Ceann Hùlabhaig – with Callanais I still in sight to the west. The two sites are separated by a walk of a few 100 metres via a rather squelchy path.
Further videos from Lewis cover our journey from Harris to Lewis, exploring the West Side, Ness, and the Butt of Lewis; the island of Great Bernera; the south west of Lewis; and Stornoway, the Iolaire Memorial, Point and our return trip to Ullapool.

Music:
1. Chris Zabriskie Prelude No 21
2. Aislinn Lovely Maria from Aislinn
3. Jon Mark The Standing Stones of Callanish from Tssoc
4. Stefan Grass, Edward McGuire & Peter Anderson Three Traditional Scottish Pieces: II. The Lewis Jig
5. Gary Stroutos & Gary Rollins Stones of Callainish from In Stone Circles