Treasures of Harris Island

See the locations on Isle of Harris Google Map

Picture by James Laing
Arctic tern seen over Luskentyre beach

Picture by Kelvyn Skee
Luskentyre beach

Picture by Stuart Beattie

Picture by CaptainOates
Wild flowers near Luskentyre beach

Picture by James Laing
Panorama seen from Seilebost, view towards Luskentyre beach

Picture by James Laing
View towards Luskentyre from the Coffin Road, with Loch Carran. The land in East Harris is so thin above the underlying rock, it is said, that it is not possible to bury the dead. Therefore this trail was used to carry the dead for burial to the deeper grounds.

Picture by fs999
Panorama seen from Horgabost, with Luskentyre beach

Picture by Tim Haynes
Gneiss stones near Horgabost

Picture by fs999
Rock formation near Horgabost

Picture by Colin Campbell
Nisabost Beach with Taransay Island

Picture by Colin Campbell
MacLeod Stone near Traigh Lar

Picture by Ike ofSpain
Triagh Lar

Picture by damian entwistle
Seilebost Beach

Picture by CaptainOates
Traigh Mhor, "a coarse grained orange sand beach backed by monstrous dunes and subject to the full force of the Atlantic gales. Thunderous breaking waves are pretty common place here", writes transientlight.co.uk.

Picture by Bob the Lomond
Ceapabhal from Borve Beach

Near Borve beach you find standing stone NG020939, on the west side of the road. The site is called Borvemore sometimes. The 2 metres tall stone has two fallen stones close by. Read more and see pictures.


Picture by Bob the Lomond
Scarista Post Office

Picture by Jim Barter
Scarista Beach

Picture by Jim Barter

Picture by James Laing
Machair, view of Scarista Beach

Picture by James Laing
Traigh na h-Uidhe, Northton

Picture by James Laing
Chapel ruin with Traigh na Cleabhaig

Picture by Jim Barter
Panorama from Ceapabhal with Scarista Beach on the left

Picture by Tim Haynes
Rodel Church

Picture by Simon Varvell
Rodel Church

Picture by ian
Carvings in Rodel Church

Picture by fs999
View from Rodel

Picture by Erik Erskine
Rodel with Roineabhal

Picture by IrenicRhonda
Loch Seaforth

Picture by Irenic Rhonda
Amhuinnsuidhe Castle. It was built in 1865 for the owner of the Isle of Harris, the 7th Earl of Dunmore.

Picture by Piefke La Belle

Amhuinnsuidhe Castle offers accommodation, rumour says it is home to the ghost of Lady Sophie Scott who was also a resident of the Castle in Edwardian times.


Picture by James Laing
Hushinish Beach

Picture by Piefke La Belle
Rocks in Hushinish

Picture by vandesign
Traigh Mheilein

Picture by Colin Campbell
Scarp island


Read more:
The South Harris machair: sources and settlements by Emma Anderson

An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language

Walking and Discovering more of the Hebrides

See the locations on Outer Hebrides Google Map

Northton Walk on Isle of Harris: Three and a half miles. Sights: An Taoibh Thuath and Traigh-na Cleabhaig beaches; moorland; remains of Rubh An Teampaill Medieval Chapel; birds as Pied Wagtail and Stonechat. Start from the gate at the end of Northton road. Read the path description.


Macleod's Stone and Traigh Iar Walk: This short walk crosses Traigh Iar before climbing up to visit Macleod's standing stone. The route then passes over a low hill to Traigh Niosabost before returning to the road. Read path description.


Luskentyre Sands: This walk heads across the sands of one of the finest beaches in UK and then above the shoreline before returning through the village. The route is impassable at high tide. read path description.


On the Coffin Road: Following the Bealach Eòrabhat, or "Coffin Road", you'll set out from Loch Airigh on Harris's rocky east coast, and pass one of the most gloriously sandy beaches in the UK, on the west coast. Read the path description by The Guardian. And see this video.


Harris Eagle Observatory Walk: Read the path description.


Walk From The North Side of Hushinish to Traigh Mheilein Beach: Sights: Hushinish Jetty, Island of Scarp, cliff tops and moorland, white sanded beach of Traigh Mheilein. Read the path description.


Follow Harris's route to the letter: The old postman’s path is a thrilling journey that zigzags along the coast and over a mountain pass, discovers Mark Rowe. Read path description by Independent.


Ardvourlie Woodland Walkway on Isle of Lewis: Read the path description and this article of Stornoway Gazette.

Treasures of Isle of Lewis

See the locations on Isle of Lewis Hebrides Google Map

Breasclete Community Association

Tolsta Chaolais:

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Rebecca (@rebeccammunro) am 9. Mai 2016 um 7:17 Uhr

Dalmore Beach: Popular with surfers.

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Elizabeth MacLeod (@lilmacleod) am 13. Mär 2017 um 5:05 Uhr

Dalmore Beach

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Amanda (@amandamaca) am 8. Aug 2016 um 8:11 Uhr

Not the usual view: In 2016 on August 8 an oil rig was blown ashore at Dalmore during a towing operation. "The towline between the rig and its tug was lost en route from Norway to Malta amid high winds and heavy seas in the early hours that day. The rig grounded with 280 tonnes of diesel on board and two of its four fuel tanks were damaged in the incident. It resulted in the loss of 53,000 litres of fuel, most of which is thought to have evaporated with no damage to the environment", telegraph.co.uk wrote.

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Mountain Photograpy (@annettevet) am 24. Aug 2016 um 16:38 Uhr

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Sandra MacKay (@lochiegirl) am 5. Apr 2017 um 15:16 Uhr

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Shona MacLellan (@shonamairi) am 22. Mai 2016 um 10:45 Uhr

By Train, Ferry and Bus to and on the Hebrides

See the locations on Hebrides Buses and Ferrys Google Map

The Way to the Hebrides
From Fort William you take the citylink bus (timetable). In Uig you take the ferry of Caledonian MacBrayne to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris (timetable).

From Fort William you may also take the train to Mallaig (timetable), a normal train or the Jacobite Steam Train, also called Hogwarts train. There are bus connections as well (timetable). From Mallaig to Armadale on the Isle of Skye there is a ferry operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (timetable). From Armadale there are buses to Broadford during the summer timetable of the ferry (timetable of Bus 601). From Broadford you use the citylink bus (timetable). In Uig you take the ferry of Caledonian MacBrayne to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris (timetable).



Buses on the Isles of Harris and Lewis

W1 Stornoway - Barvas - Port of Ness: Timetable go and back.

W2 Westside Stornoway - Barvas - Shawbost - Carloway - Callanish: Timetable go and back.

W3 Stornoway - Bernera: Timetable go and back.

W4 Stornoway to Uig: Timetable go and back.

W5 Stornoway to Tong, Back and Tolsta: Timetable go and back.

W5 Stornoway to Point (including Melbost and Airport): Timetable go1, go2 and back1, back2.

W10 Stornoway - Ballalan - Tarbert - Leverburgh: Summer timetable go and back.

W11 Tarbert - Maaruig - Rhenigadale: Timetable go and back

W12 Tarbert - Cliasmol - Amhuinnsuidhe - Hushinish: Timetable go and back.

W13 Leverburgh - Rodel - Stockinish - Tarbert: Timetable go and back.

W14 Tarbert - Island of Scalpay: Timetable go and back.

What you should know about Harris Tweed

5 things you might not know about Harris Tweed

Treasures of Skye Island

Picture by Jim Barter
Uig Hotel

Music of the Hebrides

"Famed for their traditional Gaelic songs, as well as the skills of local pipers and fiddle and accordion players, the Outer Hebrides have become world-renowned for their music", writes visitouterhebrides.co.uk. The Lewis Pipe Band marches through the town centre of Stornoway every Saturday evening from the end of May until the end of August. The Hebridean Celtic Festival takes place in July for four days, see the program for 2016.

Sleeps the Noon in the deep blue Sky: By Kenneth McKellar on Youtube. And lyrics here:

Sleeps the noon in the deep blue sky,
While bright the sun shines on Cona's steep.
Sweet sounds the note of the lonely heron,
Sleeps the noon in the deep blue sky.

Bright the sun shines on Cona's steep,
While hounds for chase all on fire are straining.
Their deep-mouthed bay sweet as bardic music,
Sleeps the noon in the deep blue sky.

Sweet the winds softly murmuring,
Of eagle sweet is the far-heard cry.
As sails she o'er Morven's mighty sea-board,
Sleeps the noon in the deep blue sky.


Eriskay Love Lilt: By Judith Durham & The Seekers on Youtube. And lyrics here.

Vair me o, ro van o
Vair me o, ro van ee
Vair me o, o ru o ho
Sad am I without thee

When I'm lonely, dear white heart
Black the night and wild the sea
By love's light my foot finds
The old pathway to thee.

Thou'rt the music of my heart
Harp of joy, o cruit mo chridh
Moon of guidance by night
Strength and light thou'rt to me


The Cockle Gatherer: On Youtube.

The Seal Woman's Croon: By Nathalie de Montmollin on Youtube.


Milking Croon: By Etnastara on Youtube and also als Gaelic Song. And the lyrics here.

Il a bho-lag-ain il bho m'agh-an
Il a bho-lag-ain il bho m'agh-an
Il a bho-lag-ain il bho m'agh-an
Mo chrodh laoigh air gach taobh an abh-ainn.

Eel-a vo-la-kin eel vo ma-an
Eel-a vo-la-kin eel vo ma-an
Eel-a vo-la-kin eel vo ma-an
Mó-chró lur air guch turv an a-van.



The Skye Waulking song: By Capercaille on Youtube.


The Mermaid's Croon: By Joanne McIver on Youtube and by City Choir Dunedin on Youtube and by Trackers of Jura on Youtube. And the lyrics.


Ho! mo nigh’n dubh
He! mo nigh’n dubh
Mo nighean dubh
‘S tu mo chuachag.

Caidil a luaidh
Fo chobhair nan stuadh
Air bodha na suain
'S do bhruadar 's a' cheòban

Caidil a ghraidh
O caidil mu thràth
Is t'athair air bhàigh
Is fadal mo phòig air

Eala rid' thaobh
Is roin os do chionn
Lacha Mhoire 's a' chaol
'S cha'n fhaobar bhrònag


Translation:

Sleep beneath
The foam o’ the waves
On reefs of sleep
Dreaming in dew mist.

Thy seabed
The seals o’er head
From reivers dread
Securely guarding

While I croon,
White swan of the moon,
Wild duck of the sound,
By thee are resting.


Kismuil's Galley: By The Corries on Youtube.


The Bens of Jura: On Youtube with the lyrics.

Like watercress gather'd fresh from cool streams,
thy kiss, dear love, by the bens of Jura.
Cold, cold the bens, cold thy love as they,
Like watercress gather'd fresh from cool streams.
Gold the morn at dawn up wingeth,
Dreams the night, deep drown'd in dew mist,
And my heart, reft of its own sun,
Deep lies sunk in death torpor cold and gray.
Like watercress gather'd fresh from cool streams,
thy kiss, dear love, by the bens of Jura.
Cold, cold the bens, cold thy love as they,
Like watercress gather'd fresh from cool streams.


Land of Heart's Desire: By Lorna Kelly on Youtube. And lyrics here.

Land o' heart's desire,
Isle of Youth, dear Western Isle,
gleaming in sunlight!
Far the cloudless sky stretches blue across the Isle,
green in the sunlight.
There shalt thou and I wander free on sheen-white sands,
dreaming in starlight.


A 13th Century Love Lilt: By Alison Pierce on Youtube.


Felix Mendelssohn: The Hebrides - Overture, Op. 26: On Youtube. Also known as Fingal's Cave. It was composed by Felix Mendelssohn while residing on these islands.


Hebridean Symphony: Composed by Sir Granville Bantock. On Youtube.


Ian Anderson, singer of Jethro Tull: He owned an estate at Strathaird on Skye at one time.Severa l Tull songs are written about Skye, including Dun Ringil, Broadford Bazaar and Acres Wild (which contains the lines "Come with me to the Winged Isle, / Northern father's western child..." in reference to the island itself.


The Folk Rock Band Runrig started on Skye. Listen to The Mighty Atlantic. Runrig's second single is entitled Skye.


Celtic fusion band The Peatbog Faeries is based on Skye.


The Road to the Isles: This is a classic Scottish traditional song. It is part of the Kennedy-Fraser collection and it appeared in a book entitled ‘Songs of the Hebrides’ published in 1917.


Gaelic Song from the Isle of Lewis - Thainig na Meirlich anns an Oidhche:


Gaelic Song: An Aitearachd Ard by Ishbel MacAskill:


Ishbel MacAskill - Gradh Geal Mo Chridh (Fair Love Of My Heart):


Music from the Western Isles - Beanntan na Hearadh