After leaving the white cliffs of Dover behind us in last night’s sunset, we cruised west in the English Channel all night and this morning arrived in the historic port city of Portsmouth. Several options were available for our excursions today, including a very special visit to Southwick House, where the details of the D-Day invasion were planned. There was also an opportunity to visit a beautiful local wildlife reserve at Titchfield or to explore the historic docks and ships at the old naval dockyards in the center of Portsmouth’s harbor. Whichever option we chose, it was a great way to begin getting to know some of the beautiful and fascinating details of Southern England.
5/6/2025
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Calanais, Isle of Lewis
Today’s journey took us to one of the oldest stone monuments of the British Isles. Formed from some of the oldest rock in the world, the Standing Stones of Calanais is located on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Our morning began with a thrilling presentation by National Geographic Photographer and Filmmaker David Wright who answered our questions about his career filming wildlife across the globe and told stories of awe-inspiring encounters with nature and his many gripping near-death experiences. Following this, I gave an introduction to the history of Neolithic monuments and the significance of Calanais, helping us imagine the world of its builders some 5,000 years ago. After lunch, we went ashore to walk among the iconic and towering stones themselves, which sparked lively discussion and reflection on the beliefs and practices of Neolithic peoples. Some guests ventured beyond the main circle to explore the broader ritual landscape of Calanais, hiking through the peat and heather to visit other nearby megaliths that dot the surrounding fields. It was a moving day, one that connected us with our ancestors and the enduring mysteries of the ancient past.
