Nisabost – A Standing Stone above a White Harris Beach
A few hours.
The route
Clach Mhic Leòid, MacLeod's Stone, is a prehistoric standing stone over three metres tall on the headland above Nisabost, one of the white-sand beaches along the west coast of South Harris.
It looks out across the Sound of Taransay towards St Kilda, and the beach below is one of the loveliest on the island. Lunch is across the road at Talla na Mara, the community centre run by the West Harris Trust.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Harris Hideaway, 7 miles away. Sleeps 2.
The day
Nisabost
A short, steep climb to an ancient stone above a white beach, a wander on the sand below it, then soup and home baking across the road.
About two hours
Nisabost Beach & MacLeod’s Stone
An attraction
There's parking beside the A859 above Nisabost, on the west coast of South Harris, and it's about ten minutes on foot to the stone. MacLeod's Stone stands at the north end of the beach, up a short, steep, grassy slope on the headland. Nobody knows why it was raised. Two slabs set on edge a few metres to its west suggest it once stood in a row or at the edge of a cairn, and some see the outline of Taransay in its top. Beside it you look across the Sound of Taransay, with the tall hill of Ceapabhal to the south-west. Then walk down onto the white sand of the beach. Dogs are welcome on the sand. The slope is slippery when wet and very exposed in wind, so take care with children. Allow about an hour.
Talla na Mara
Lunch
Talla na Mara is a minute's drive south, across the road from the beach: the West Harris Trust's community centre, with a café, a gift shop and studios. The café serves homemade soup and sandwiches, specials and home baking. In the summer season it opens 10am to 4pm, with lunch from 11am to 3pm, on weekdays only: it is shut on Saturdays and Sundays, so bring a picnic at the weekend. Out of season ring 01859 503905 first. Its hours can change, and it posts them on its Facebook page, so check there. Only groups of six or more need to book.
If it rains
The headland and the beach have no shelter; in rain and wind skip the slope to the stone, look at it from the parking, and go straight to Talla na Mara, which is under a roof.
Where to stay
Photograph by Julie Smith via Google