For thousands of years, the ancient Neolithic standing stones of Calanais have been the center of mystery and ritual.
Pagans and artists have roamed freely at this site in the Western Isles for generations, while Outlander fans and tourists flock to the standing stones.
Producers of the hit TV show said the mythical Craigh na Dun from the TV series was “inspired” by the stones, which has increased tourism. The number of visitors to the site has tripled to 150,000 visitors per year, up from 45,000 in 2019.
But now Historic Environment Scotland (HES), which manages the site, could introduce charges for people to visit the historic site. He has launched a consultation on the plans.
The giant megaliths, next in importance after Stonehenge, are said to be older than the pyramids of Egypt. The stones, set in the shape of a Celtic cross, also appeared in the blockbuster Brave.
Calanais also predates Stonehenge and was an important site for ritual activity for at least 2,000 years.
The Calanais Stones on the Isle of Lewis attract tens of thousands of visitors each year
Sam Heughan, who plays Jamie Fraser, and Caitriona Balfe, who plays Claire Randall-Fraser, in the fictional Craigh na Dun.
The mythical Craigh na Dun (pictured) from the television series was ‘inspired’ by the stones
Sian Evans, regional visitor and community manager for the HES northern region, said: ‘The Calanais Standing Stones hold a special place at the heart of the community, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of the Outer Hebrides. As custodians of this important site, it is our responsibility to help ensure its sustainable management for generations to come.
‘To achieve this, we are considering making adjustments to the access and charging modalities.
“These changes aim to strike a balance between preserving the integrity of the site, supporting local businesses and jobs, and working closely with the community.”
Visitor numbers are expected to continue to rise once a new port built for large cruise ships opens in Stornoway, the Western Isles’ largest city, later this year. Smaller boats already dock in the western islands.
Philip Carr-Gomm, former head of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, said Calanais is particularly linked by pagans to the full moon, who need to visit it at night throughout the year.
Paying for access to a religious site was itself questionable, Carr-Gomm said.
For thousands of years, the stones erected on the Hebridean island have remained a mystery, with experts unsure why they were placed there and for what purpose.
Calanais predates Stonehenge (pictured) and was an important site for ritual activity for at least 2,000 years.
Last year, former Teardrop Explodes singer-songwriter Julian Cope, who has written extensively about prehistoric monuments and knows Calanais well, said it was an “unbearable problem because it shouldn’t be.”
The main Callanish stone circle dates to between 2900 and 2600 BC. This, and the satellites of the surrounding circle, are one of the most important surviving complexes of early prehistoric ritual monuments in Europe.
Peat preserved the site, leaving the tallest stones visible, which revealed the rest of the site when the peat was removed in 1857. Two years earlier, it became one of the first historic sites to come into the care of the state. The main complex contains 50 cross-shaped stones.
HES said the intention of the fee is to reinvest a portion of the entrance fee revenue into heritage projects in the Outer Hebrides. However, proposals to introduce an entry charge would not apply to local residents.
It comes after a major refurbishment of the visitor center at the stones received £2m last year. The center is managed by a trust independent of HES.
Visitors to the Western Isles are expected to rise further to 200,000 by 2025 once the new cruise terminal opens.
The largest cruise ship ever to visit the Western Isles arrived in Stornoway last September – longer than four jumbo jets and weighing 139,072 tonnes.
The MSC Preziosa is so large and submerged in the water that it cannot approach the berth, forcing it to remain in the outer anchorage south of Arnish Lighthouse throughout its stay.
Operated by MSC Cruises of Geneva, it normally carries 3,500 passengers and 1,380 crew, compared to the approximately 6,000 who live in the Western Isles’ largest city.
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Shona Robinson said the Western Isles would see “thousands” of jobs, leading “Scotland’s next industrial revolution”, with the opening of the portal.
MSC Preziosa soared over the rooftops of Stornoway last September
During a visit to the Western Isles, Ms Robison said it will not just be the 60,000 cruise passengers visiting this year that will boost the local economy, but the vast renewable industry that will also use the terminal.
He also stated that the number of cruise ships needed to be managed “properly.”
Orkney councilors recently decided to limit the daily number of cruise ships which locals say flood the islands with too many passengers.
Amsterdam has banned large cruise ships and Venice has imposed a similar suspension on ocean liners entering its historic center.
Britain began to shift from “hunter-gatherer” to agriculture and settlement around 7,000 years ago as part of the “Neolithic Revolution.”
The Neolithic Revolution was the world’s first verifiable agricultural revolution.
It began in Britain between about 5000 BC and 4500 BC, but spread across Europe from its origins in Syria and Iraq between about 11000 BC and 9000 BC.
The period saw the widespread transition of many disparate human cultures from nomadic hunting and gathering practices to agricultural and small settlement building practices.
Stonehenge, the most famous prehistoric structure in Europe, possibly the world, was built by Neolithic peoples and then expanded during the Early Bronze Age.
The revolution was responsible for turning small groups of travelers into settled communities that built towns and cities.
Some cultures used irrigation and cleared forests to improve their agricultural techniques.
Others stored food for times of famine, and agriculture ended up creating different roles and divisions of labor in societies as well as in commercial economies.
In the United Kingdom, the period was triggered by a huge migration or popular movement across the English Channel.
The Neolithic Revolution saw humans in Britain move from nomadic hunter-gatherer groups to settled communities. Some of Britain’s oldest monuments are Neolithic structures, including Silbury Hill in Wiltshire (pictured)
Today, prehistoric monuments in the UK span from the time of Neolithic farmers to the invasion of the Romans in AD 43.
Many of them are run by English Heritage and range from menhirs to huge stone circles, and from burial mounds to hillforts.
Stonehenge, the most famous prehistoric structure in Europe, possibly the world, was built by Neolithic people and then completed during the Bronze Age.
Neolithic structures were typically used for ceremonies, religious festivals, and as centers of trade and social gatherings.