Your Holiday
The Isle of Harris - Things to See and Do
Harris is one of the most glorious of Scotland’s islands boasting beautiful beaches offset by wilder landscapes and a very special array of plant and bird life. It is a fantastic place to just enjoy the amazing scenery and relax completely but there are also many things to do. Here are only a few.
Explore the fabulous and quiet beaches, walk the beautiful sands or potter amongst the rock pools. The island has a wealth of bird and animal life for the watching including otters, seals, porpoises and sometimes other species like Minke whales.
TThe beautiful and exceptional Isle of Harris golf course is only a few minutes drive from the house and the island boasts some of the best fishing anywhere. There are many walks and hills to climb from guided machair walks in summer to the majestic An Clisham. Hire a bike and take in the landscape at a slightly slower speed, surf, kite, kayak…
Explore a totally different side to the island on the East (known as the Bays). Soak up the history with a visit to some ancient monuments like the ruined chapel on the south side of Chaipaval, MacLeod’s Stone or Rodel Church. Marvel at the powerful and evocative standing stones at Callanish or walk inside the walls of Carloway Broch. There are many boat trips available to St Kilda, the Shiants or any one of several other islands, or learn about Harris life and environment by exploring some of the waters on the East coast with a trip on the Lady Catherine. The island is a dream for photographers and artists with unique light and colours, stupendous sunsets and majestic mountains. The night skies above àilean can be truly mezmerizing with the full effect of thousands of heavenly bodies.
If you are interested in art there are a number of galleries on the island and some with artists in residence like Ardbhuidde in Drinishader. Of course, no trip to Harris would be complete without the superlative Harris Tweed so don’t forget to visit a tweed weaver or two!
