With strong winds and heavy rain in the forecast, today was very much an expedition. With plan A looking unlikely, we headed to the shelter of the Western Isles and towards the Isle of Harris and Lewis. We were escorted into the sheltered waters by puffins, Manx shearwaters, gannets, and storm petrels. By the time we anchored and launched the Zodiacs, the wind had dropped, and the sun was shining. We spent the afternoon exploring the Neolithic standing stones of Callanish.
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.
