Harris
Coordinates: 57°55′N 6°50′W / 57.91, -6.83
| Harris | |
| Scottish Gaelic: Na Hearadh (help·info) | |
  Harris shown within the Outer Hebrides |
|
| Population | 1,984[1] |
|---|---|
| Language | Scottish Gaelic |
| English | |
| OS grid reference | NB155005GB |
| Council area | Na h-Eileanan Siar |
| Lieutenancy area | Western Isles |
| Constituent country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ISLE OF HARRIS |
| Postcode district | HS3 |
| Dialling code | 01859 |
| Police | Northern |
| Fire | Highlands and Islands |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| European Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Na h-Eileanan an Iar |
| Scottish Parliament | Western Isles |
| List of places: UK • Scotland | |
Harris (Scottish Gaelic Na Hearadh pronounced [nə 'hɛɾəɣ]) 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 two parts of the same island. Lewis is, in general, the lower lying part of the island with Harris being the more mountainous.
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Etymology
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. In Old Norse, a Hérað was a type of administrative district. Most of the place names on Harris are Gaelicized Old Norse.
Geography
Harris 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).
The bedrock of Harris is largely Lewisian gneisses, which were laid down in the Precambrian period, interspersed with granite intrusions. One of these intrusions forms the summit plateau of the mountain Roinebhal. The granite here is anorthosite, and is similar in composition to rocks found in the mountains of the Moon.[2][3]
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 1,984.[1]
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 62,500 acre North Harris Estate was purchased[4] by development trust the North Harris Trust on behalf of the local community.[5][6] In April 2006 the Trust hosted the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company conference "Community Energy: Leading from the Edge"[7] in Tarbert. In early 2008 the Trust received planning consent for three 86 metre (282 ft) wind turbines to be located at Monan.[8] 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.[9]
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 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 road which runs along the east coast of south Harris is known colloquially as the "Golden Road" as it cost so much money to build, when it was built in 1897. It runs from Tarbert to Rodel through the area of Harris known as Bays and through the coastal townships of Lickisto (Liceasto), Geocrab (Geòcrab), Manish (Mànais), Flodabay (Fleòideabhagh), Ardvay (Àird Mhighe), 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, The Corncrake and the Lysander and Crotal and White paint a vivid and humorous picture of Hebridean life.
Tarbert
Tarbert is the main port and capital village of Harris. The name Tarbert comes from the Norse tairbeart meaning "draw-boat". Tarbert is a community of approximately 500 located on a narrow strip of land between Loch Tarbert and West Loch Tarbert. The village has the main ferry terminal, local tourist information and a range of small shops are available, including the Harris Tweed Shop overlooking the main access road to the Cal Mac ferry terminal and AD Munro's general grocery store on the main street.
Recent media attention has surrounded 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 through the winter. There is an application for the Scottish shore record of 183 pounds (83 kg) although a subsequently caught fish estimated at 204 pounds (93 kg) has been landed. These catches have attracted the attention of the local and national press and sea angling’s leading magazines.[10][11]
Economy and transport
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.
Harris is also known for Harris tweed, although it is mostly now made in Lewis.
Education
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. The current headmaster is Gordon Macdonald.[12] The largest photovoltaic cell installation in Scotland is a 21 kWp system at the school.[13]
Religion
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Main article: Outer Hebrides#Religion
Harris has a largely Presbyterian population that practices sabbatarianism and all retail outlets are shut on Sunday.[14] This area has been described as the last bastion of fundamentalist Calvinism in the UK and there was controversy in 2006 when Caledonian MacBrayne decided to commence operating a ferry service on Sundays.[15]
Media and the arts
Tinted shots of parts of the island were used by Stanley Kubrick as the surface of Jupiter in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.[16]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Island Populations" Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Retrieved 3 April 2008.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Islanders celebrate buy-out, BBC News Online, 1 March 2003
- ^ "Welcome to The North Harris Trust - Urras Ceann a 'Tuath na Hearadh" North Harris Trust. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
- ^ "About Development Trusts" DTA Scotland. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
- ^ HICEC conference 2006
- ^ "North Harris community wind farm approved" (February 2008) John Muir Trust Journal No. 44.
- ^ Ross, John (14th March 2008) "Island may be site of third national park". Edinburgh The Scotsman.
- ^ Press and Journal report
- ^ BBC NEWS | Scotland | Highlands and Islands | Record-breaking hope for big fish
- ^ "Harris School Details" Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
- ^ "Scotland's largest Sun Energy system installed in Western Isles" (2 November 2004) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Press release. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
- ^ "Hebrides 2002" Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
- ^ Seenan, Gerard (10 April 2006) "Fury at ferry crossing on Sabbath" The Guardian. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
- ^ "Welcome to Film Hebrides" filmhebrides.com. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
External links
- Information on South Harris and Leverburgh including photographs
- Information on the Isle of Harris by Explore Hebrides
- Pictures of Harris
- Panoramas of the Island (QuickTime required)
- Photographs and useful information about Harris
- The North Harris Trust
- Scarista Beach
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