HARRIS

'Harris' (''Na Hearadh'' in Scottish Gaelic) is the southern part of the largest island of the Western Isles of Scotland or Outer Hebrides (''Na h-Eileanan Siar''). The northern part of the island is called Lewis (''Leòdhas''). Despite the use of the terms 'Isle of Lewis' and 'Isle of Harris', the two names 'Harris' and 'Lewis' refer to the two parts of the same island. Lewis is, in general, the lower lying part of the island, with Harris being the more mountainous.

Contents

Geography

Religion

Etymology

North Harris

South Harris

Trivia

See also

References

External links

Geography

Harris divides naturally into northern and southern parts which are separated by West Loch Tarbert. These halves are joined by a narrow isthmus at the main settlement of Tarbert (''An Tairbeart'' or ''Tairbeart na Hearadh''), from which ferries sail to Uig in Skye. Harris was previously part of Inverness-shire, under older administrative divisions. In the 2001 census Harris had a usually resident population of 3,601.
Harris is also known for Harris tweed, although it is mostly now made in Lewis.
In common with many parts of the Highlands and Islands Harris has numerous single-track roads with passing lanes at intervals.

Religion

Harris has been described as the last bastion of fundamentalist Calvinism (see Religion in the Outer Hebrides), and sabbatarianism is still a highly contentious issue.

Etymology

Most of the place names of Lewis and Harris come from Old Norse. ''Lewis'' and ''Harris'' came via Old Norse ''Ljóðhús'' = "Home of the Poet" (Ljóð = Poet, hús = house) and ''Hérað'' = "a type of administrative district" from alterations of unknown Pictish originals.

North Harris

North Harris, adjoining Lewis, contains Clisham (''An Cliseam''), the highest mountain in the Outer Hebrides at 799 metres. The area is sparsely populated. Beyond Tarbert, the furthest settlement is Hushinish (''Hùisinis'') on the west coast. A bridge from the east coast links Harris to the island of Scalpay (''Scalpaigh na Hearadh'').
In March 2003 the North Harris Estate was purchased^[1] on behalf of the local community by the North Harris Trust. In April 2006 the Trust hosted the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company conference "Community Energy: Leading from the Edge"^[2] in Tarbert. The largest photovoltaic installation in Scotland is a 21 kWp system at the Sir E. Scott secondary school also in Tarbert.^[3]

South Harris

The southern part of Harris is less mountainous, with numerous unspoilt, white sandy beaches on the west coast. Its main settlements are Rodel (''Roghadal''), known for its medieval kirk St. Clement's Church (''Eaglais Chliamhain'') (Historic Scotland), the most elaborate surviving medieval church in the Hebrides after Iona Abbey, and Leverburgh (''An Tòb na Hearadh'' or ''An t-Òb na Hearadh'') from which a ferry sails to Berneray (''Beàrnaraigh na Hearadh''), an island off the coast of North Uist (''Uibhist a Tuath''), to which it is joined by a causeway.
The road which runs along the east coast of Harris (from south of Tarbert to Rodel) is known colloquially as the "Golden Road" as it cost so much money to build, when it was built in 1897 by Jamie Harris. It runs through the area of Harris known as Bays through the coastal townships Lickisto (''Liceasto''), Geocrab (''Geòcrab''), Manish (''Mànais''), Flodabay (''Fleòideabhagh''), Ardvay (''Àird Mhighe''), Finsbay (''Fionnsbhagh'') and Lingerbay (''Lingreabhagh'').
Of all the beaches on South Harris, Luskentyre and Scarista are considered by many to be the most spectacular. The scenery is some of the most breathtakingly beautiful in Scotland. From Luskentyre, the island of Taransay, where the BBC Television series Castaway was recorded, is seen most clearly. At Scarista the scene is much more sporting, as it is often the venue for surfing and kite buggying. Nearby the Harris Golf Club offers well kept greens and astounding views, but there is no play on Sundays. Scarista is the birthplace of the author Finlay J. MacDonald. Finlay wrote about growing up on Harris in the 1930s in his books: ''Crowdie and Cream'', ''The Corncrake and the Lysander'' and ''Crotal and White'' and paints a very vivid and humorous picture of Hebridean life.

Trivia

Tinted shots of parts of the island were used by Stanley Kubrick as the surface of Jupiter in the film .[1]

See also

★ Lewis and Harris

★ History of the Outer Hebrides

References

1. Islanders celebrate buy-out, BBC News Online, 1 March 2003
2. HICEC conference 2006
3. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar press release

External links

★ Pictures of Harris

★ Panoramas of the Island (QuickTime required)

★ Photographs and useful information about Harris

★ The North Harris Trust

★ Scarista Beach