Clach an Truseil

On the picturesque Isle of Lewis, in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, you’ll find what is believed to be the tallest solo standing stone in Scotland. Blanketed by verdant lichen and moss, the stone makes for a striking sight as it towers above the heather and wild grasses.

The 5,000-year-old Clach an Truseil reaches about 19 feet tall—and it’s estimated to stretch a further six feet below ground. When standing within the stone’s shadow, it’s hard to comprehend how the island’s Neolithic inhabitants erected this mega monolith.

Clach an Truseil was once part of a stone circle similar to the Callanish stones, which are about 20 miles away. Many of those stones were used as lintels, with this standing stone’s last companion removed in 1914. The surviving stone is rich in history and legends, one being its witness to the battle of the feuding clans, the Morrisons and the Macaulays, and the Vikings’ settlement in Barvas.

But despite its impressive stature, the stone’s story is one not well-known outside the Hebrides. The ancient monument stands quietly among scattered rocks within the village of Baile an Truseil and next to crofts, heather, and a handful of residences.