Attractions on the Isle of Harris

Attractions    Click on images to enlarge and mouse over the image for a description

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	Sea Harris  East Tarbert, Isle Of Harris. HS3 3DB.
	Daily cruises to St.Kilda, Shiant islands and other islands. Sea Harris invites you to experience the breathing beauty & serenity of some of the most fascinating Islands in the Outer Hebrides aboard the ‘Enchanted Isle’ Sea Harris offer scheduled day excursions to St. Kilda and to the Shiant Islands as well as providing private charters to many small Islands accessible from the Isle of Harris. With St. Kilda excursions departing from Leverburgh in South Harris & Shiants excursions departing from Tarbert in North Harris, our scheduled Island visits are accessible to anyone visiting Lewis & Harris during the summer months.
	Tel: 01859 502007  or Mob: 07760 216 555

	Kilda Cruises  'Heather Lea'  Tarbert. Isle of Harris. HS3 3BG.
	KILDA CRUISES Departing from Leverburgh on the Isle of Harris, we provide a fast, comfortable day trip service to St Kilda, Hirta, Dun, Soay & Boreray. Trips to the other remote outlying islands are available by request. Custom tours can be arranged for a maximum of twelve people. The scenery you will encounter on board is second to none and the island is a haven for whales, sharks, dolphins, puffin, gannet, guillemot and also many different species of wild flowers and lichens.   Booking is essential.
	Tel: 01859 502060   www.kildacruises.co.uk

	Harris Tweed and Knitwear , 4 Plockropool. Isle of Harris. HS3 3EB.  Click here for a map
	Situated in Tarbert, Harris at the far end of the bay near the main junction A859. A large selection of Harris Tweed Clothing for Ladies, Gents and Children. Superb range of bags, hats, shoes, boots, purses and many more accessories, all in Harris Tweed. We also have a large Tweed store opposite the shop with new and old exciting Tweeds to choose from. There is also an open exhibition to see and learn the history and production of Harris Tweed which has been our family tradition.
	Tel: 01859 502040    Email:    www.harristweedisleofharris.co.uk

	The Harris Knitwear Company  Grosebay, Isle of Harris Western Isles. HS3 3EF.
	The shop is situated at Grosebay, seven miles from Tarbert and well signed off the main A859 to Leverburgh. Large ranges of high-quality Harris Tweed jackets & coats for Men and Women. Our Harris Tweed is woven by Donald John Mackay of the Luskentyre Harris Tweed Co. Exclusive stockists of ''Mario-Barutti'' Lightweight Harris Tweed jackets. Traditional/Designer knitwear & accessories. ''Hebrides'', a new and exciting range of authentic pure new wool, which is dyed and spun locally.
	Tel:  01859 511108 or 01859 511240  harrisknitwear@hotmail.com  www.theharristweedknitwearcompany.co.uk

	Harris Tweed
	Harris Tweed is probably the best known of all the products of Lewis and Harris. The hard wearing, and now fashionable again cloth, has been woven in the homes of the islanders of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra for hundreds of years. Originally called Clo Mhor in Gaelic, meaning ‘the big cloth’, its potential was realised by Lady Dunmore in 1846, when she had local weavers copy the Murray tartan in Tweed. After the huge success of this venture, she improved the process and marketed the product to her friends. Today, the high quality cloth can be viewed all over the world. www.harristweed.org

	St Kilda
	The volcanic island of St Kilda is one of the most remote parts of the British Isles and lies 41 miles west of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides. It has the highest sea cliffs and probably the most dramatic scenery of anywhere else in the UK. The island which is owned by the National Trust for Scotland has been declared a World Heritage Site and has the largest colony of guillemots in the world, the oldest and largest colony of fulmars, the biggest colony of puffins in Britain and over one million birds in total. In 1936 the last 36 inhabitants were evacuated from the island at their own request due to the harshness of conditions and crop failures. There are no permanent residents today, but the main island of Hirta is occupied all year round by a number of civilians working on the MoD base there. During the summer months these numbers are increased by volunteer work parties and employees of the Scottish National Trust. The MoD base is part of the Hebrides missile tracking range based in Benbecula, where test firings and flights are carried out. The MoD leases St Kilda from the National Trust for Scotland for a nominal fee.   Kilda Cruises and Sea Harris sail to St Kilda on a regular basis.

The Beaches
	Beaches are probably the feature of Harris that impress most visitors. The colour of the water, even on a dull day, and the purity of the sand are simply stunning. The beaches range from the huge expanses of Traigh Losgaintir (Luskentyre) and Traigh Sgarastaigh (Scarista) to little sheltered coves beside the road at Na Buirgh (Borve). Behind the beaches are the machairs - green grassy plains covered in a mass of wild flowers in the summer.   The images probably don't do justice to the wonderful colours and sheer size of the beach area.

	Seallam! Visitor Centre, at Northton. An important centre to visit if you would like to find out more quality information about Harris. The centre has a changing series of exhibitions on various facets of local life and history. It also has a well stocked book shop, with a tea and coffee bar. Seallam ! is also the home of Co Leis Thu? the internationally known Research Centre set up by Bill and Chris Lawson. If researching your hebridean ancestors, the staff at Seallam! are willing to help.  You can browse among exhibits dealing with the history and natural environment of the Hebrides, or consult more detailed sources of information in the Research Area.       Tel: 01859 520258      www.seallam.com

	Church of St. Clement at Rodel is situated at the southern tip of Harris, near Leverburgh. The church was built in the 16th century by Alexander MacLeod of Harris and Dunvegan , otherwise known as Alasdair Crotach (humpback), due to a sword wound. The main features of interest are three tombs carved in black gneiss depicting knights, and the tomb of Alexander (picture to the right). The church is open to the public and run by ‘Historic Scotland’.  The church is normally open and there is no entry charge.  Good views from the tower, however, it must be pointed out that the steps are nearly vertical, and the staircase narrow.

	The Isle of Taransay  lies just off the west coast of South Harris, and was used to film the BBC programme, Castaway 2000. It can be best viewed from the roadside parking place between Horgabost and Borve. Originally, the island supported three villages, Raa, Paibil and Horgabost.  Uidh. By the mid 1800’s they amalgamated into one farm based on Paibil. Only one family remained on the island until the 1970’s and now the island is unoccupied apart from sheep and deer. During the summer, boat trips go out to the island.