If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Scotland has a number of world class tourist destinations which range from the likes of Edinburgh Castle & the Edinburgh Festivals to the golf courses of St Andrews. Scotland has so much to offer that a suitable vacation can be found for almost anyone but besides the great many well known vacation destinations there is a multitude of lesser known but equally thrilling and enjoyable vacations to be had in places such as the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides/Western Isles.

There are two groups of islands, the Inner Hebrides and the Outer Hebrides, which make up the total group known simply as just the Hebrides. Consisting of hundreds of islands, the Hebrides are found off the west coast of Scotland. The most popular vacation destination in the area is the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides.

The Outer Hebrides are very different from the Inner Isles and there is a great deal of diversity amongst the islands of the Western Isles. The Isle of Lewis, to the north, is the largest and most populated island to which the Isle of Harris is attached, to the south. Lewis consists of mainly boggy moorland (except around the coast which is spectacular) whereas Harris is mountainous to the North and rocky to the South.

Tarbert is the main village on Harris which is found at the point where North Harris becomes South Harris. It is here where you will arrive/depart to or from the Isle of Skye if traveling by ferry. Always take great care to book your ferry as early as possible and get to it as early as possible as it does not wait for anybody. Tarbert can get a little congested at ferry times so take care.

There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy a variety of sports on the Isle of Harris. Many folk enjoy fly fishing and sea fishing and there are a number of wonderful places where you can enjoy fishing for trout, salmon and Atlantic char as well as cod and other sea fish. Golfers will be pleased to know that Harris has it’s own superb golf course with truly awesome views and there is a further course in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.

Driving around Harris you will notice how popular cycling is on the island. You have to take care as they can sometimes be oblivious to others on the road. Many folk travel in groups to Harris just to cycle together. Other energetic sports to be enjoyed on Harris is the most obvious, walking and climbing. The Harris countryside is all over spectacular, wherever you walk you will be surrounded by the incredible.

Nobody should ever visit the Isle of Harris without spending some of their time on one of the many fantastic beaches found along the west coast of this most beautiful island. Soft silver to gold shell sand can be seen stretching off into the distance, often without a sole to be seen.

Choosing how and where to stay on the Isle of Harris depends greatly on how you plan to spend your time. If you like to be independent then Harris self catering could be the perfect solution. If you like to experience luxury then a Harris hotel is the more likely option. The most affordable accommodation is B&B or guest house accommodation. If you plan to visit some places on the Isle of Lewis then it may be best to base your vacation towards the north of Harris, in Tarbert maybe.

Tags: Travel Tips

Share This