Re: Callanish | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Callanish

TomBo Feb 20, 2004 08:42:14

Replying to pebblesfromheaven

It's easily done, pebs, but you have to take care to arrive on the island at the right time. We got there in the early evening and by then the buses had all finished for the day. If you get to Stornoway before, say, half four in the afternoon then you'll be able to get a bus straight to Callanish - there's one roughly every hour. The bus station is dead close to the ferry terminal and it'll drop you off in the visitor centre car-park at Callanish. If I were you I'd stay on until it gets into Callanish village so that you can do the last mile or so on foot. That's just me, though - I wish I'd approached the monument from the avenue end (thus avoiding the visitor centre), and I like to walk the last part of my journeys to the stones in any case. I've heard that it's MUCH cheaper to take the car if you get the ferry from somewhere other than Ullapool, but I can't remember where. I have a feeling that involved going via Skye.

It'll blow your mind! Be sure to see Cnoc Fillibhear Bheagg - that's the place to get a real feel for the Callanish landscape from. The main monument usually has a thousand camera lenses on it.

moey Feb 20, 2004 09:25:21

Replying to TomBo

I've done it via Stornoway and coming onto Harris. Don't remember there being that much difference in cost - but was doing island hopping so that might have had an influence.

I would imagine it can be done without a car, like Tombo said, the buses do run regularly but stop pretty early in the day.

This time of year, you're not going to have too much light, and if you have work stuff to do too then your 'staying over' plan would seem the best option.

The crossing can be choppy enough late holiday season, so I can imagine it can get pretty bad if you hit unlucky. Just remember to watch the horizon if you want to hang onto your dinner.

Callanish is so much more than just the main site, so expect to do a fair bit of walking to make the most of your trip. Personally, I would opt for the car to get to some of the outlying sites - just don't get stranded on a Sunday!

Dropping in on Ron & Margaret Curtis is an essential for an understanding of the place - not sure what sort of health they are in though, haven't heard from them for a while. If you go see them pay for one of their tours and take it all in - just don't expect them to be erm conventional.

One way or another you've got to do it.

moey

PS - you were asking about facilities recently - there's a cracking chinese takeaway in Stornoway across from the ferry terminal ;O)