Anger as Outlander fans flock to iconic ancient stones older than the Pyramids - forcing bosses to announce visitor charge

For thousands of years, the ancient Neolithic Calanais Standing Stones have been the centre of mystery and ritual.

Pagans and artists have freely roamed the site on the Western Isles for generations whilst Outlander fans and tourists flock to the standing stones.

Producers of the hit TV show said the mythical Craigh na Dun in the TV series was 'inspired' by the stones, which has increased tourism. Visitor numbers to the site have tripled to 150,000 visitors a year – up from 45,000 in 2019.

But now Historic Environment Scotland (HES), which runs the site, could now introduce charges for people to visit the historic site. It has launched a consultation on the plans. 

The giant megaliths – next in importance to Stonehenge – are said to be older than the pyramids in Egypt. The stones - set in the shape of a Celtic cross - also featured in the blockbuster Brave.

Calanais also predates Stonehenge and was an important place for ritual activity for at least 2,000 years.

The Calanais Stones on the Isle of Lewis attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year 

Sam Heughan who stars as Jamie Fraser and Caitriona Balfe who stars as Claire Randall-Fraser at the fictional Craigh na Dun

The mythical Craigh na Dun (pictured) in the TV series was 'inspired' by the stones

Sian Evans, Regional Visitor and Community Manager for North Region at HES, said: 'Calanais Standing Stones hold a special place in 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 adjustments to access and charging arrangements. 

'These changes aim to strike a balance between preserving the integrity of the site, supporting local business and jobs, and working closely with the community.'

Visitor numbers are expected to continue rising once a new port built for large cruise ships people opens in Stornoway, the Western Isles' biggest town, later this year. Smaller vessels already dock at the Western Isles. 

Philip Carr-Gomm, a former chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, said Calanais is particularly linked by pagans to the full moon, who need to visit 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 of why they were placed there and for what purpose 

Calanais predates Stonehenge (pictured) and was an important place for ritual activity for at least 2,000 years

Last year, former Teardrop Explodes singer-songwriter Julian Cope, who has written extensively on prehistoric monuments and knows Calanais well, said it was an 'excruciating problem because it shouldn't be a problem.'

The main stone circle at Callanish dates from between 2900 and 2600 BC. It, and the surrounding circle satellites, is one of the most important surviving complexes of early prehistoric ritual monuments in Europe.

Peat preserved the site, leaving the taller stones visible, which revealed the rest of the site when the peat was removed in 1857. Two years before that it became one of the first historic sites to be taken into state care. The main complex contains 50 stones in a cross shaped setting.

HES said the intention of the fee is to reinvest a portion of the revenue from an entry fee into heritage projects across the Outer Hebrides. Proposals to introduce an entry charge would not apply to local residents, however.

It comes after a major redevelopment of the visitor centre at the stones was awarded £2 million last year. The centre is run by a separate trust to HES. 

Visitors to the Western Isles is predicted to rise further to 200,000 by 2025 once the new cruise ship terminal opens. 

The largest cruise liner ever to visit the Western Isles sailed into Stornoway last September – longer than four jumbo jets and weighing 139,072 tonnes.

The MSC Preziosa is so big and sits so deep in the water that it cannot actually come close to the berth, forcing it to stay in the outer anchorage south of Arnish lighthouse throughout its stay.

Operated by MSC Cruises of Geneva, it usually carries 3,500 passengers and 1,380 crew – compared to the roughly 6,000 who live in the Western Isles' biggest town. 

Scotland's Deputy First Minister Shona Robison said the Western Isles would see 'thousands' of jobs, leading 'Scotland's next industrial revolution', with the opening of the portal 

MSC Preziosa towered over the rooftops of Stornoway last September 

Speaking on a visit to the Western Isles, Ms Robison said it was not just the 60,000 cruise ship passengers who will visit this year that will boost the local economy, but the vast renewable industry that will also use the terminal.

She also said that cruise ship numbers had to be managed 'appropriately'.

Councillors on Orkney recently decided to move towards limiting the daily number of cruise ships that locals say are swamping the islands with too many passengers.

Amsterdam has banned large cruises ships and Venice has imposed a similar halt on liners entering its historic centre.

Britain began the move from 'hunter-gatherer' to farming and settlements about 7,000 years ago as part of the 'Neolithic Revolution'

The Neolithic Revolution was the world's first verifiable revolution in agriculture.

It began in Britain between about 5000 BC and 4500 BC but spread across Europe from 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 ones of farming and building small settlements.

Stonehenge, the most famous prehistoric structure in Europe, possibly the world, was built by Neolithic people, and later added to during the early Bronze Age

The revolution was responsible for turning small groups of travellers into settled communities who built villages and towns.

Some cultures used irrigation and made forest clearings to better their farming techniques.

Others stored food for times of hunger, and farming eventually created different roles and divisions of labour in societies as well as trading economies.

In the UK, the period was triggered by a huge migration or folk-movement from across the Channel.

The Neolithic Revolution saw humans in Britain move from groups of nomadic hunter-gatherers to settled communities. Some of the earliest monuments in Britain are Neolithic structures, including Silbury Hill in Wiltshire (pictured)

Today, prehistoric monuments in the UK span from the time of the Neolithic farmers to the invasion of the Romans in AD 43.

Many of them are looked after by English Heritage and range from standing stones to massive 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 later finished during the Bronze Age.

Neolithic structures were typically used for ceremonies, religious feasts and as centres for trade and social gatherings.