Callanish
Encyclopedia
Callanish is a village (township) on the West Side of the Isle of Lewis
, in the Outer Hebrides
(Western Isles), Scotland
. A linear settlement with a jetty
, it is situated on a headland jutting into Loch Roag, a sea loch
. It lies 13 miles west of Stornoway.
Calanais is the location of the Callanish Stones, a cross-shaped setting of standing stone
s erected around 2000 BC, one of the most spectacular megalith
ic monuments in Scotland. There is a modern visitor centre which provides information about the main circle and several other lesser monuments nearby.
Lewis
Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is ....
, in the Outer Hebrides
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
(Western Isles), Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. A linear settlement with a jetty
Jetty
A jetty is any of a variety of structures used in river, dock, and maritime works that are generally carried out in pairs from river banks, or in continuation of river channels at their outlets into deep water; or out into docks, and outside their entrances; or for forming basins along the...
, it is situated on a headland jutting into Loch Roag, a sea loch
Loch
Loch is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or a sea inlet. It has been anglicised as lough, although this is pronounced the same way as loch. Some lochs could also be called a firth, fjord, estuary, strait or bay...
. It lies 13 miles west of Stornoway.
Calanais is the location of the Callanish Stones, a cross-shaped setting of standing stone
Standing stone
Standing stones, orthostats, liths, or more commonly megaliths are solitary stones set vertically in the ground and come in many different varieties....
s erected around 2000 BC, one of the most spectacular megalith
Megalith
A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. Megalithic describes structures made of such large stones, utilizing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or cement.The word 'megalith' comes from the Ancient...
ic monuments in Scotland. There is a modern visitor centre which provides information about the main circle and several other lesser monuments nearby.