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The standing stone of Camus an Staca on a slope of rust-coloured grass, the sea and hills beyond.
Isle of Jura

Camus an Staca

A great prehistoric standing stone, nearly twelve feet high, on a slope above the Sound of Jura near Craighouse.

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Camus an Staca is a great prehistoric standing stone on Jura: a single slab of rock nearly twelve feet high, broad on one face and thin on the other, set facing east and west on a slope of rough grass and bracken above the sea, a few miles along the road from the Feolin ferry towards Craighouse.

From beside it the view runs out across the Sound of Jura, with the hills of Jura rising behind.

It is prehistoric, but no one knows who raised it, or why. A low heap of stones against its east side was once taken for a cairn, but archaeologists now think it is only field clearance, gathered from the old rig-and-furrow cultivation that still ribs the ground around it. The stone is visible from the road, and a path leads up to it through the bracken. It is a short stop on the way into Craighouse, the island's only village.

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Before you go

The stone stands above the road from the Feolin ferry to Craighouse and can be seen from it; a path leads up through the bracken.

Park only where it is safe on the single-track road.

Getting there
Passenger ferry from Tayvallich to Craighouse (April to September), or via Islay: Port Askaig to Feolin.
Where
Above the road from Feolin to Craighouse.
Walk
A short path through the bracken.

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Did you know

Camus an Staca, a tall thin standing stone, against a grey sky.
Did you know

It stands 11 feet 8 inches high.

For all that height the stone is only nine inches thick, a slab four and a half feet across set with its broad faces to the east and the west.

Bracken and forestry near Camus an Staca, hills across the Sound of Islay beyond.
Did you know

The cairn beside it is a farmer's heap.

The stone was once thought to stand against a burial cairn. A later survey found it in old ploughed ground, and judged the heap to be stones cleared off the rigs.

Camus an Staca seen across orange bracken with conifers behind.
Did you know

You see it first from the road.

It shows up from the single road, most clearly when driving towards the Feolin ferry, and a path leads up to it through the bracken.

Camus an Staca in bracken in front of dark conifers.
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Where it is

Near Craighouse, the south-east of Jura.

Close byNear Craighouse.
  1. Isle of Jura DistilleryIsle of Jura DistilleryThe whisky distillery in Craighouse, founded around 1810 and brought back to life by the islanders in 1963.4 miles 6 min by road
  2. CraighouseCraighouseJura's one village, strung along Small Isles Bay, with the distillery, the hotel, the shop and the pier.4 miles 6 min by road
  3. Jura GuidedGuided walks on Jura with an islander, from a shore walk to the long day out to Barnhill and Corryvreckan.4 miles 6 min by road
  4. The Jura Hotel RestaurantThe Jura Hotel RestaurantThe family-run hotel in Craighouse, with a restaurant over the Sound of Jura and the island's only pub.4 miles 7 min by road
  5. The AntlersThe AntlersA bakehouse, café and bar in Craighouse opposite the shop, with sourdough, pies, bakes and island rum.4 miles 7 min by road
  6. Corran SandsCorran SandsA long sweep of pale sand at the head of Small Isles Bay near Craighouse, sheltered, shallow and under the Paps of Jura.9 miles 13 min by road
Directions
The Jura Community Shop, a timber building with a red telephone box beside it in Craighouse.ShoppingJura Community Shop3.8 miles
Tartan and tweed pieces made at Camella Crafts, folded on a table.ShoppingCamella Crafts3.9 miles
Rows of Deer Island rum bottles with turquoise caps.AttractionsDeer Island Distillery3.9 miles
The dark timber Whisky Island Gallery and Studio at the Pier Garage, Craighouse.ShoppingThe Whisky Island Gallery and Studio3.9 miles
The small Jura ferry crossing the Sound of Islay, seen from the air.ServiceJura Ferry, Port Askaig to Feolin4.8 miles
Black rigid inflatable boat moored before white cottages along a wooded shorelineAttractionsPort Askaig5.6 miles
Masked woman packs boxes in a pottery studio lined with unglazed ceramics and paint bottlesShoppingPersabus Pottery, Ceramics and Art6.6 miles
White harbourside buildings beside a rocky shore and calm loch under hillsAttractionsCaol Ila Distillery6.9 miles
The Paps of Jura in the distance beyond a sweep of tawny moor grass.AttractionsPaps of Jura7.5 miles

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