Harris, Outer Hebrides

The Vikings arrived in the British Isles from the late 700s, and in the Northern Isles and Western Isles of Scotland they named places as part of their conquest.{{cite book|title=Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness|last1=Macbain|first1=Alexander|publisher=Northern Chronicle|volume=19|year=1895|chapter=The Norse Element in the Topography of the Highlands and the Isles|pages=217–218|isbn=|url={{Google books|plainurl=yes|id=fhQtAAAAIAAJ|page=217}}}} Documents from several centuries ago show the Isle of Harris being referred to as Haray or Harray, Here or Herre, Herrie, and the plural Harreis; as well as possibly related place names such as Harris on the isle of Rum; Herries in Dumfries; Harray on Orkney; and Harrastadhir (Harrastaðir) in Iceland.{{cite book|title=Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness|last1=Macbain|first1=Alexander|publisher=Northern Chronicle|volume=19|year=1895|chapter=The Norse Element in the Topography of the Highlands and the Isles|pages=227|isbn=|url={{Google books|plainurl=yes|id=fhQtAAAAIAAJ|page=227}}}} The place-name Harris has been suggested to be based on Old Norse hærri, meaning 'higher', a reference to the high hills, especially in comparison with the much flatter Lewis lying to the north.Dictionary of Scottish Place-Names, David Ross (Birlinn)

The name of this island in Gaelic is "Na h-Earradh". The isles of the Hebrides once had Gaelic names, however the Norsemen renamed them.{{cite book|title=Place names, Highlands & islands of Scotland|last1=Macbain |first1=Alexander|last2=Watson|first2=William J.|publisher=E. Mackay, Stirling|year=1922|pages=68–73|url=https://archive.org/details/placenameshighla00macbuoft/page/72/mode/2up}}

The Gaelic name "Na Hearadh" was also an earlier term for the Rinns of Islay.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

Most of the place names on Harris are Gaelicized Old Norse.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

Harris is most likely to be the island referred to as Adru (meaning 'thick, stout or bulky') on Ptolemy's map of the British Isles.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

{{as of|2011}}, there were 1,212 Gaelic speakers in Harris, corresponding to roughly 60% of the population.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/naidheachdan/24954480/ Census 2011 stats]. BBC News. Retrieved 20 April 2014.

File:West Loch Tarbert, Isle of Harris and Lewis, Scotland, 23 April 2011 - Flickr - PhillipC.jpg and Taransay]]

The boundary between Lewis and Harris is approximately a line from the head of Loch Resort on the west coast to the closest point of Loch Seaforth on the east coast. Harris itself divides naturally into northern and southern parts which are separated by West and East Loch Tarbert. These halves are joined by a narrow isthmus at the main settlement of Tarbert (An Tairbeart or Tairbeart na Hearadh).

File:Clisham.jpg, Harris]]

The bedrock of Harris is largely Lewisian gneisses, which were laid down in the Precambrian period, interspersed with igneous intrusions. One of these intrusions forms the summit plateau of the mountain Roinebhal. The rock here is anorthosite, and is similar in composition to rocks found in the mountains of the Moon.McKirdy, Alan Gordon, John & Crofts, Roger (2007) Land of Mountain and Flood: The Geology and Landforms of Scotland. Edinburgh. Birlinn. Page 94.Gillen, Con (2003) Geology and landscapes of Scotland. Harpenden. Terra Publishing. Pages 63–4.

Harris is a part of historic Inverness-shire, and was administered as such under older administrative divisions. In the 2001 census, Harris had a usually resident population of 1,916.[http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/factfile/population/islandpopulations.asp "Island Populations"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100209/http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/factfile/population/islandpopulations.asp |date=4 March 2016 }} Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Retrieved 31 January 2015. It is part of the South Lewis, Harris and North Uist National Scenic Area, one of 40 in Scotland.[http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/protected-areas/national-designations/nsa/ "National Scenic Areas"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311014235/http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/protected-areas/national-designations/nsa/ |date=11 March 2017 }}. SNH. Retrieved 30 Mar 2011.

File:Old lazybeds on North Harris.jpg, or "lazy beds" on North Harris]]

North Harris, adjoining Lewis, contains Clisham (An Cliseam), the highest mountain in the Outer Hebrides at {{convert|799|m|ft|0}}.Rotary Club (1995) p. 124Johnstone et al (1990) p. 240 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 (Sgalpaigh na Hearadh).

In March 2003 the {{convert|62500|acre|ha|order=flip|adj=on}} North Harris Estate was purchased[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2810017.stm Islanders celebrate buy-out], BBC News Online, 1 March 2003 by the North Harris Trust, a development trust, on behalf of the local community.[http://www.north-harris.org "Welcome to The North Harris Trust – Urras Ceann a 'Tuath na Hearadh"] North Harris Trust. Retrieved 15 March 2008.[http://www.dtascot.org.uk/whatis.cfm "About Development Trusts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304050349/http://www.dtascot.org.uk/whatis.cfm |date=4 March 2008 }} DTA Scotland. Retrieved 15 March 2008. In April 2006 the Trust hosted the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company conference "Community Energy: Leading from the Edge"{{cite web|url=http://www.hie.co.uk/hicecconference2006.html|title=HICEC conference 2006|website=hie.co.uk|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061021231402/http://www.hie.co.uk/hicecconference2006.html|archive-date=21 October 2006|url-status=dead}} in Tarbert. In early 2008 the Trust received planning consent for three 86 metre (282 ft) wind turbines to be located at Monan."North Harris community wind farm approved" (February 2008) John Muir Trust Journal No. 44. In 2008 Mike Russell, the Scottish environment minister announced that the North Harris Trust had begun canvassing local opinion about a proposal to create Scotland's third national park in the area.Ross, John (14 March 2008) "Island may be site of third national park". Edinburgh The Scotsman.

File:Scotland Harris 1.jpg

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 of St. Clement (Eaglais Chliamhain), the most elaborate surviving medieval church in the Hebrides after Iona Abbey, and Leverburgh (An Tòb na Hearadh or An t-Òb na Hearadh). A ferry sails from the latter 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 east coast of south Harris is known as the Bays. The best known section called the "Golden Road" as it cost so much money to build, when it was built in 1897. It runs from Miavaig via Drinishader, Grosebay, Scadabay and Cluer to Stockinish. From Stockinish the road is the Bays and meanders through the coastal townships of Lickisto (Liceasto), Geocrab (Geòcrab), Manish (Mànais), Flodabay (Fleòideabhagh), Quidinish (Cuidhtinis), Finsbay (Fionnsbhagh) and Lingerbay (Lingreabhagh).

The beaches of Luskentyre and Scarista are amongst the most spectacular. From the former the island of Taransay, where the BBC Television series Castaway 2000 was recorded, is seen most clearly from Harris. At Scarista the beach is a venue for surfing and kite buggying. Nearby the Harris Golf Club offers well kept greens and views of the hills, but there is no play on Sundays. Scarista is the birthplace of the author Finlay J. MacDonald, who wrote about growing up on Harris in the 1930s. His books: Crowdie and Cream, Crotal and White and The Corncrake and the Lysander paint a vivid and humorous picture of Hebridean life.

{{main|Tarbert, Harris}}

Tarbert is the main port and main settlement of Harris, with a population of about 550. The name Tarbert comes from the Norse tairbeart meaning "portage" or "isthmus". It is located on an isthmus between Loch Tarbert and West Loch Tarbert. The village has a ferry terminal, local tourist information and some small shops, including a Harris Tweed shop overlooking the main access road to the CalMac ferry terminal and a general grocery store. It is also home to the Harris Distillery.

{{main|Scalpay, Outer Hebrides}}

The island of Scalpay is located at the mouth of East Loch Tarbert. It was known historically for its fishing industry, though little of that remains. The island was linked to Harris when the Scalpay Bridge was opened in 1997, connecting Scalpay to the settlement of Kyles on Harris.

Media attention has recently been drawn to angling on Harris, and Tarbert in particular. Local fishermen have been targeting large Common Skate in the area and have had prolific catches, mainly from West Loch Tarbert, in autumn and winter. There is an application for the Scottish shore record of {{convert|183|lb|kg}} although a fish estimated at {{convert|204|lb|kg}} was later landed. These catches have attracted the attention of the local and national press and sea angling's leading magazines.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149235&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149218&contentPK=18750957&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch|title=Press and Journal report|website=thisisnorthscotland.co.uk|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612103950/http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149235&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149218&contentPK=18750957&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch|archive-date=12 June 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7057841.stm|title=Record-breaking hope for big fish|date=23 October 2007|access-date=4 April 2018|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}

File:Golden Road Harris.JPG to Tarbet along the east coast of South Harris]]

In common with many parts of the Highlands and Islands, Harris has numerous single-track roads with passing places at intervals. Ferries sail from Tarbert to Uig in Skye.

According to the Scottish Government, "tourism is by far and away the mainstay industry" of the Outer Hebrides, "generating £65m in economic value for the islands, sustaining around 1000 jobs" The report adds that the "islands receive 219,000 visitors per year".{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotland.org/live-in-scotland/where-to-live-in-scotland/the-outer-hebrides|title=The Outer Hebrides | Scotland.org|website=Scotland}} The Outer Hebrides tourism bureau states that 10–15% of economic activity on the islands was made up of tourism in 2017. The agency states that the "exact split between islands is not possible" when calculating the number of visits, but "the approximate split is Lewis (45%), Uist (25%), Harris (20%), Barra (10%)".{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/industry/tourism-in-the-outer-hebrides|title=Tourism in the Outer Hebrides|website=Outer Hebrides}}

Harris is known for Harris Tweed, although this textile is mostly made in Lewis, with the major finishing mills in Shawbost and Stornoway. Every length of cloth produced is stamped with the official Orb symbol, trademarked by the Harris Tweed Association in 1909. Harris Tweed is defined as "hand woven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the islands of Harris, Lewis, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Barra and their several purtenances (The Outer Hebrides) and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides."[http://www.harristweed.org/fabric_hist.htm Harris Tweed Authority, "Fabric History"], retrieved 21 May 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215113925/http://www.harristweed.org/fabric_hist.htm |date=15 February 2012 }}

Tarbert is home to the Harris distillery,{{cite book |last=Maclean |first=Charles |date=2016 |title=Whiskypedia. A Gazetteer of Scotch Whisky |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Birlinn|pages=240–241 |isbn=978-1-78027-401-0}} which has former Monsanto CEO, Hugh Grant among its directors.{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/SC334836/officers| title=Isle of Harris Distillers Ltd| publisher=Companies House| access-date=2018-11-23}} In 2018, the distillery was named Scottish Gin Distillery of the year at the annual Scottish Gin Awards,{{Cite web|title=Winners 2018|url=https://www.scottishginawards.co.uk/sga/winners/winners-2018|access-date=2020-08-18|website=KD Media|language=en}} and in 2020, Harris Gin was voted favourite Scottish gin in the Scottish Gin Society Consumer Choice Awards for the third year in a row.{{Cite web|date=2020-02-11|title=The nations favourite Scottish Gins 2020 revealed|url=https://www.thescottishginsociety.com/2020/02/11/the-nations-favourite-scottish-gins-2020-revealed/|access-date=2020-08-18|website=The Scottish Gin Society|language=en-GB}}

As of 2021, the company was marketing only gin, but had started production of Hearach' single malt Scotch whisky; it would be some years before that product would be available for sale.{{Cite web|url=https://harrisdistillery.com/|title=Isle of Harris Distillery|website=Isle of Harris Distillery}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/hebrides-scotland-distilleries-whisky-breweries-travel-islands-road-trip-a8963356.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220509/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/hebrides-scotland-distilleries-whisky-breweries-travel-islands-road-trip-a8963356.html |archive-date=9 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Welcome to a new breed of distilleries and breweries in Scotland’s Hebrides|date=18 June 2019|website=The Independent}}

The Sir E. Scott secondary school in Tarbert serves the whole of the Isle of Harris and Scalpay. This school has a primary and secondary department and can educate up to sixth year.[http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/education/harrisaddresses.htm "Harris School Details"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824193720/http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/education/harrisaddresses.htm |date=24 August 2007 }} Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Retrieved 10 February 2008. The school has a 21 kW photovoltaic system installed. There is also a Primary School, Leverhulme Memorial School, in Leverburgh.[http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/press/041102.htm "Scotland's largest Sun Energy system installed in Western Isles"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926212229/http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/press/041102.htm |date=26 September 2007 }} (2 November 2004) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Press release. Retrieved 31 August 2007.

{{see also|Religion in the Outer Hebrides}}

Harris has a largely Presbyterian population that practises sabbatarianism: all retail outlets are shut on Sunday.[http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/hebrides2001/infobytes.htm "Hebrides 2002"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415161539/http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/hebrides2001/infobytes.htm |date=15 April 2009 }} Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Retrieved 3 August 2008. This area has been described as the last bastion of Reformed fundamentalism in the UK, and there was controversy in 2006 when Caledonian MacBrayne started a Sunday ferry service.Seenan, Gerard (10 April 2006) [https://www.theguardian.com/religion/Story/0,,1750597,00.html "Fury at ferry crossing on Sabbath"] The Guardian. Retrieved 3 August 2008. However, a Sunday ferry service between Berneray (North Uist) and Leverburgh (An t-Òb) in the south of Harris has been introduced with relatively little controversy and now operates all year round. This allowed travel to Lewis and Harris by ferry on a Sunday before the Sunday ferries to Stornoway started in 2009. The North Uist end of the connection can be reached by other ferry routes that also operate on Sundays (Uig-Lochmaddy and Oban-Lochboisdale).

Tinted shots of parts of the island were used by Stanley Kubrick as an alien landscape in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.[http://www.filmhebrides.com/ "Welcome to Film Hebrides"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061021014849/http://www.filmhebrides.com/ |date=21 October 2006 }} filmhebrides.com. Retrieved 26 September 2007.

In his 1962 novel Atlantic Fury Hammond Innes put a fictional Joint Services Guided Weapons Establishment in Northton, South Harris, where some of the action takes place.

The nearby island of Taransay became well known following the BBC show Castaway broadcast in 2000 and various scenes were shot on Harris itself. The film The Rocket Post was also filmed on Taransay in 2004. The film is based on the story of Gerhard Zucker, the German rocket scientist who in 1934 used the Isle of Scarp as his base for experimenting with sending mail over long distances by rocket.

The local newspaper is the Stornoway Gazette; there is also a community newspaper published fortnightly, called Dè Tha Dol?

File:Isle of Harris district tartan.JPG

A group of sixth-year pupils at the Sir E. Scott secondary school in Tarbert won the 2003 Young Enterprise UK Award for their design, marketing, and selling of the Isle of Harris district tartan. The tartan is officially registered with the Scottish Tartans Authority (under number 6198) and with the Scottish Tartans World Register (under #2981). Its symmetrical threadcount is listed as "WW/8 B80 K8 LG16 K16 LB/24", with a colour palette of:

{{color box|#2888C4}} pelorous blue #2888C4,
{{color box|#289C18}} forest green #289C18,
{{color box|#101010}} dark grey #101010,
{{color box|#FCFCFC}} wilson white #FCFCFC, and
{{color box|#2C2C80}} Windsor blue #2C2C80.{{cite web|url=http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails.aspx?ref=1867|title=Tartan Details – The Scottish Register of Tartans|first=National Records of|last=Scotland|website=www.tartanregister.gov.uk|access-date=4 April 2018}}

• History of the Outer Hebrides

{{reflist|30em}}

• Rotary Club of Stornoway (1995) The Outer Hebrides Handbook and Guide. Machynlleth. Kittwake. {{ISBN|0-9511003-5-1}}
• Johnstone, Scott; Brown, Hamish; and Bennet, Donald (1990) The Corbetts and Other Scottish Hills. Edinburgh. Scottish Mountaineering Trust. {{ISBN|0-907521-29-0}}
• {{cite book|last=Vogler|first=Gisela|title=A Harris way of life: Marion Campbell (1909–1996)|year=2001|publisher=Harris Voluntary Service|location=West Tarbert|isbn=0-903960-29-X}}

{{commons category|Harris, Outer Hebrides|Harris}}

• {{Wikivoyage inline|Harris}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120724030248/http://www.leverburgh.co.uk/ Information on South Harris and Leverburgh including photographs]
• [http://www.explore-harris.com/ Information on the Isle of Harris by Explore Hebrides]
• [https://archive.today/20070511000857/http://www.absolutelynothing.co.uk/isleofharris/?cid=823&lang=en-gb Pictures of Harris]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060617024647/http://robinwilson.net/harris.html Panoramas of the Island] (QuickTime required)
• [http://www.southharris.com/ Photographs and useful information about Harris] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218212208/http://www.southharris.com/ |date=18 December 2008 }}
• [http://www.north-harris.org/ The North Harris Trust]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070528080717/http://www.virtualhebrides.com/harris/location/scarista/ Scarista Beach]

{{Lewis and Harris}}

{{Hebrides}}

{{Scottish provinces|insular}}

Category:Lewis and Harris

Category:Community buyouts in Scotland

Category:Important Bird Areas of the Outer Hebrides

Category:Parishes in Western Isles