To the south of Lewis, Harris is the spectacular jewel in the islands’ necklace that comprises the Outer Hebrides. It has a stunning blend of pristine beaches, rugged mountains, barren rocky landscapes, and flower-speckled machair. The land at Tarbert splits Harris neatly in two: North Harris is overlooked by hills that rise above the peat moors to the south of Stornoway – Clisham (800m) is the highest point. South Harris is lower-lying, covered by a beautiful rocky coastline to the east and gorgeous white-sand beaches in the west. If you are a Harry Potter Fan, Isle of Harris awaits you with so many muggle stories.
Top Attractions in Harris, Scotland
- Luskentyre: Luskentyre is one of Scotland’s most extensive and most beautiful beaches, popular for its acres of low-tide white sands and silent waters. A trivial road leads along the north side of the bay to a parking region beside an old graveyard; from here, you can stroll west along the beach or into the grassy dunes with sumptuous views across the ocean to the Taransay island.
- St Clement’s Church: At the southern tip of Harris’s east coast stands the striking 16th-century CE St Clement’s Church, constructed by Alexander MacLeod of Dunvegan between the 1520s CE and 1550s CE, only to be stranded after the Reformation. There are numerous fine tombs inside, which include the cenotaph of Alexander MacLeod, finely carved with a castle, hunting scenes, a traditional longboat, and innumerable saints, including St Clement holding a skull.
- Leverburgh: The Leverburgh village is named after Leverhulme (founder of Unilever), who purchased Lewis and Harris in 1918 CE. He had ambitious plans for An t-Ob, as Leverburgh was then known – it was to be a significant fishing port with a population of 12,000 – but the plans eventually died with him in 1925 CE, and the village returned to a dozy backwater.
- Clò Mòr: The legendary Campbell family has been preparing Harris tweed for 90 years, and this display (behind the old family shop) honors the history of the cloth known in Gaelic as clò mòr (the ‘big cloth’); ask about live presentations of tweed weaving on the 70-year-old Hattersley loom. Drinishader is around 5 miles south of Tarbert on the eastern coastal road.
- Isle of Harris Distillery: This distillery began production in 2015 CE, so its first batch of whisky got ready in 2019; meanwhile, it’s making Isle of Harris gin, too. The contemporary building is very stylish – the hall feels like a luxury hotel – and 60-minute voyages depart two or three times daily (weekdays only) in summer; they’re incredibly famous, so book well in advance. There’s a nice cafe here, too.
Now You Know
