For 5,000 years, Calanais Standing Stones have been a source of wonder for all who visit. Now, they will soon be a source of income too.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has been given ministerial approval to charge an entry fee at Calanais, one of the country's great Neolithic sites, for the first time.
The price of entry has yet to be agreed. But money raised will be used to support conservation of the stones, as well as feed into a new fund to support heritage sites across the Western Isles.
Island residents will be exempt from the charge to Calanais and those visiting for spiritual or cultural reasons will be able to submit a request to be exempt from the fee.
The charge will be introduced as Calanais comes under increased pressures due to rising visitor numbers. Erosion at the site has been caused by both changing weather patterns and increased footfall.
The site, which inspired the Craigh Na Dun stones in hit TV series Outlander, now attracts 150,000 visitors a year. That figure is expected to rise to around 200,000 by 2030, with the increase partly due to the arrival of larger cruise ships to the new deep water port at Stornoway.
Katey Boal, head of North region at HES, said: "We know how special Calanais is to the people of Lewis and to visitors from across the world,
Our plans will help enhance the visitor experience and allow us to invest in the wider cultural and economic future of the Outer Hebrides. Introducing an admission charge will help to protect and conserve the monument for future generations. "
The fee comes amid a growing collaboration between HES and Urras nan Tursachan (UnT), the not-for-profit charity, which operates the visitor centre, which is now undergoing a £10 million upgrade. The centre, which is closed at present, is due to open next year.
Previously, a charge was made to enter the visitor centre, but not the stones. Under the new arrangement, one ticket will gain access to both.
Ms Boal added: "Our approach balances the need to protect one of Europe's most significant prehistoric monuments while ensuring local residents can continue to enjoy free access to their local heritage.
"By working closely with Urras nan Tursachan, we can create a world-class visitor experience that supports conservation, the local community, and heritage projects across the Outer Hebrides."
HES received a wide range of feedback during the public consultation into the future management of the stones, with 425 responses returned. Of these, 46 per cent came from Outer Hebrides postcodes).
Maintaining fee access for island residents was maintained during this process.
A report on the consultation said that concerns around a "potential change of atmosphere" at the stones were raised, as well as a perception of "increased commercialisation" of the site.
Calanais is thought to have been created between 3000 BC and 2900BC and predates Stonehenge. It is thought the cross-shape setting of stones served as a form of astronomical observatory, with Calanais an important place for ritual activity for at least 2,000 years.
Ian Fordham, chairman at Urras nan Tursachan, said: "For nearly three decades, Urras Tursachan has been dedicated to celebrating Calanais for the people of the Hebrides and visitors from around the world.
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"This next chapter - working in collaboration with HES - builds on the £10m investment we have secured for the redevelopment of the visitor centre and will support the conservation of the standing stones, create economic value for the trust and the community and help manage the increasing number of visitors to the site."