Pollachar Standing Stone
Pollachar Standing Stone
There can surely be no ancient standing stone in Britain with easier access than this! The solitary stone at Pollachar is on the very southern tip of South Uist, looking out to sea, immediately beside the road.

It's a strange location, actually, as the stone is a mere matter of yards from the parking area of the Pollachar Hotel and Restaurant. Indeed, the very persistent hotel cat tried hard to make my acquaintance while I photographed the stone.

The stone probably dates to around 2000 BCE. It stands over 1.7 metres high and is up to 1.5 metres wide. The location of the stone is unusual; most similar stones stand on a hillside or other prominent location. Pollachar, by contrast, stands almost at the very edge of the water.

This oddity has given rise to speculation that it may have served as a marker for mariners, perhaps showing a landing place. Unless the landscape has changed considerably over time, however, this seems unlikely, as the coastline here is a morass of sharp rocks and reefs.