An Outlander Guide: The Mystical Standing Stones of Scotland
The moment Claire Randall first stumbled through the moss-covered stones of Craigh na Dun, the world of historical fantasy (and Scottish tourism!) changed forever. For fans of Diana Gabaldon’s beloved Outlander series, the subsequent global phenomenon TV show and its prequel, Blood of My Blood, these ancient, silent monoliths are more than just historical relics; they are windows to the past. They represent the thrilling, terrifying leap between worlds, between time, and into the historic heart of Scotland!
While Craigh na Dun itself is fictional (though visually inspired by real sites, as you’ll learn), Scotland is absolutely littered with breathtaking, atmospheric, and often deeply mysterious standing stones and stone circles. To walk among these ancient places is to feel the weight of history, to marvel at the legacy of another age, and perhaps hear a familiar, mysterious buzzing as you approach . . .
So, grab your tartan shawl and prepare for a journey with us across the Scottish Highlands and Islands. This is your essential, fun, and factual guide to the most iconic Scottish standing stones that will appeal to the time-traveller in all of us!
Let’s jump in!
Table of Contents
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Scotland’s Standing Stones: Where History Meets Magic
Scattered across the rugged landscape, these mystical stone circles, like the famous Ring of Brodgar in Orkney or the dramatic stones of Calanais on Lewis, are more than just piles of rock. They served as vital Neolithic and Bronze Age centres, believed to be used for complex astronomical observations, marking the turning of the seasons, and possibly as sacred gathering places for ritual and burial!
These weren’t quiet places; they were vibrant hubs of ceremony, awe, and community. In the modern age, our fascination endures – we’re captivated by the sheer ingenuity required to move and position these megaliths, but also by the sense of deep mystery they carry.
They connect us to a forgotten past, fueling endless speculation, whispered tales of druids, and even inspiring global obsessions like Outlander. They are tangible links to a world where mysticism and man walked hand-in-hand.
We recommend venturing to these sites to get the energy for yourself – it’s absolutely electrifying!
Clava Cairns, Inverness
The Unofficial Craigh na Dun
If you’re searching for the site that best resembles the fictional Craigh na Dun – both in location and appearance – the Clava Cairns are your answer!
Situated near Culloden, the site of the tragic turning point in the Outlander saga, this location holds unique and poignant significance.
The Facts
- Age: Around 4,000 years old.
- Structure: Not a stone circle, but a collection of prehistoric burial cairns surrounded by standing stones – it’s a Bronze Age cemetery!
- The Appeal: The site features two main types of cairns – passage graves and ring cairns -each encircled by its own ring of stones. The stones are also carefully aligned to the midwinter sunset!
The Outlander Connection
The Clava Cairns, often recognised as the main inspiration for Craigh na Dun, are notable due to their structure – large stones forming a circle around a central, earth-mounded area – and their proximity to Inverness and Culloden Moor. They have the necessary quiet intimacy and undeniable sense of power that the fictional site requires.
Standing here, feeling the chill wind off Culloden Moor, it’s impossible not to think of Jamie and Claire’s heartbreaking farewell. For many fans, this is the most emotional stop on the journey, as it ties the ancient past of the stones directly to the immediate, tragic history of the Jacobite cause.
Remember to be respectful; this is both an ancient burial site and a highly sacred place for the Outlander community!
More from Scotland!
The Ring of Brodgar, Orkney
A Northern Icon
If you’re looking for sheer scale and breathtaking location, the Ring of Brodgar is your ultimate pilgrimage. Located in the Neolithic heartland of Orkney, this circle dominates both the landscape and imagination!
The Facts
- Age: Roughly 4,500 years old, built between 2500-2000 BCE.
- Structure: It once consisted of 60 stones (36 remain today) set in a perfect circle 104 meters in diameter. It’s the third-largest stone circle in the British Isles.
- The Appeal: This site is ancient, powerful, and utterly exposed to the wild Atlantic elements. The location – a narrow spit of land between two lochs – gives it a truly isolated, magical feel.
The Outlander Connection
Think of Brodgar as the high-budget, cinematic version of Craigh na Dun!
It’s difficult to stand here without feeling drawn to another era. Its scale indicates a place of great social and spiritual significance, easily rivalling the importance of the fictional circle that brought Claire to Jamie.
The atmosphere alone is enough to carry you back millennia to the time of Neolithic mystics and ancient rituals, a period far more unfamiliar to Claire than the 18th century!
The Calanais Standing Stones, Isle of Lewis
The Cross of Time
Perhaps the most visually striking and uniquely structured stone circle in all of Scotland, the Calanais Stones (often Anglicised as Callanish) are a must-see. Their distinctive cross-shaped design makes them a powerful, almost labyrinthine place of contemplation and craftsmanship.
The Facts
- Age: Predates the Egyptian pyramids, dating to about 2900–2600 BC.
- Structure: It’s not just a circle; it features a central monolith surrounded by 13 stones, with four long stone avenues radiating outwards like the arms of a Celtic cross or a solar alignment tool.
- Local Lore: Legend has it that the stones are the petrified remains of giants who refused to convert to Christianity!
The Outlander Connection
If you are seeking the moody, mist-shrouded aesthetic that defines the show, Calanais is it. Its deep connection to the earth and the heavens – its alignments are thought to relate to lunar cycles – screams of ritual and mystery.
The central monolith, a towering presence over the others, feels like the perfect pivot point for a traveller seeking their way home. In 2021, the stones even appeared in a promo for the show, cementing their status as a spiritual home for the fandom!
Stand by the central stone, listen to the cry of the gulls and the Hebridean wind, and try not to pass through!
Kilmartin Glen, Argyll
A Valley of Echoes
While many stone sites are isolated, Kilmartin Glen in Argyll is a landscape saturated with Neolithic and Bronze Age history. It’s less one single circle and more an entire valley dedicated to the past!
The Facts
- Density: Kilmartin Glen contains one of the most important collections of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Scotland. Over 800 ancient monuments are within a six-mile radius!
- Highlights: You’ll find numerous burial cairns (stone mounds), rock carvings (cup-and-ring marks), and several distinct standing stone circles, including the linear alignments at Temple Wood.
- Accessibility: The stones and cairns are easily accessible via walking paths, allowing you to spend hours exploring the ancient terrain!
The Outlander Connection
Kilmartin is where you genuinely feel the layered history of Scotland – it provides context for the people Claire comes to live among. Here, whilst moving from site to site, it’s hard not to imagine the ancient rituals, the burial rites, and the sense of profound reverence for ancestors that would still have been palpable in the 18th century.
Exploring Kilmartin is like walking through a vast open-air museum, giving you a tangible connection to the ancient, spiritual world that underlies the clans’ belief systems. It’s a perfect place for history buffs who appreciate the continuity of Scottish history, from the Stone Age right up to the Jacobite Risings!
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Machrie Moor, Isle of Arran
A Coastal Mystery
For a taste of the wild west coast and island adventure, head to the Isle of Arran, often called “Scotland in miniature.” Here, you’ll find the Machrie Moor stone circles, set against a stunning backdrop of hills and sea!
The Facts
- Number: The moor is home to six distinct stone circles, built sequentially over a long period from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age.
- Diversity: They range from impressive circles of tall granite blocks to smaller rings of more modest stones, reflecting centuries of use and change.
- Setting: Surrounded by peat bog, sheep, and the Arran mountains, the circles have a remote, pastoral beauty.
The Outlander Connection
Machrie Moor is the perfect destination for an adventurer.
Getting there requires a ferry trip and a decent walk, immersing you in the kind of rugged Scottish landscape that fans of Outlander will have come to recognise!
The multiplicity of circles suggests a long-term, evolving importance to the local people, embodying the resilience of Scottish culture that is central to the show’s appeal. It’s an ideal place to appreciate the sheer age of Scotland’s heritage, stretching back long before clans like the Frasers and MacKenzies came to prominence.
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Outlander: Touching the Past
The standing stones of Scotland are the anchors of history, connecting the mythical past to the present day. For the Outlander fan, they offer a chance to walk in Claire’s footsteps – to touch (metaphorically, please be respectful and follow site guidelines!) the raw, untamed spirit of the Highlands and Islands.
Whether you seek the grandeur of Brodgar, the symmetry of Calanais, the heritage of Kilmartin, the melancholy of Clava, or the wildness of Machrie Moor, these iconic stones promise an unforgettable journey. They stand as silent witnesses to millennia of Scottish life, tradition, and, yes, perhaps the occasional unexpected trip through time!
Just remember to pack your penicillin, a sharp knife, and a healthy dose of caution. You never know who you might meet on the other side of the stones.
Happy (time) travels!
Useful Links
- VisitScotland– for local info!
- CalMac Ferries – book well in advance!
- Met Office – check the weather!
- Traffic Scotland – for route changes and updates.
- WalkHighlands – the best hiking trails and tips.
- Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) – be informed!
- Highlands2Hammocks (That’s us!) – for our online shop, other blogs, and brand-new campervan rental service.
