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Single-track road winding through rocky moorland dotted with small lochs towards the sea
Outer Hebrides

The Golden Road

The single-track road of 1897 along the rocky east coast of South Harris, through a string of tiny townships.

Welcome

The Golden Road is the single-track road that winds along the east coast of South Harris, a coast so deeply cut by sea lochs and so rocky that for most of history its tiny settlements could only be reached by sea.

The road was built in 1897 to link them. Its north-eastern stretch is known as the Golden Road, it is said for the great cost of carving it through such hard ground, and the south-western stretch is the Bays Road.

It is one of the strangest landscapes in Scotland: bare grey rock relieved only by patches of green and countless small lochs, so that it feels like driving across a mountain plateau rather than along a coast. The road twists through a string of townships with Gaelic names, past the head of Loch Stocinis and the Harris Tweed weaving at Plocrapol. Drive it from Rodel northwards, so that on a fine day the sun is behind you and the scenery is in its best light. Take it slowly, and use the passing places.

A short drive awaySeilebost Beach, HarrisA white beach on the south side of Luskentyre Bay, looking over the water to Taransay and Ben Luskentyre.11 min by roadSee itSeilebost's curve of white sand and turquoise surf below a conical hill, from above.
Before you go

The road runs along the east coast of South Harris between Tarbert and Rodel.

It is single track and demanding: drive it from Rodel, use the passing places, and allow plenty of time.

Getting there
CalMac ferry from Uig on Skye to Tarbert, or from North Uist to Leverburgh.
Road
Single track, with passing places.
Best
From Rodel northwards.
Where it is

The east coast of South Harris, between Tarbert and Rodel.

Close byOn the east coast of South Harris.
  1. Rows of Harris Tweed cushions fill a shelving wall, running from soft greys through mustard, rose and teal.Harris Tweed Isle of Harris, Tarbert5 miles7 min by road
  2. Essence of Harris, TarbertEssence of Harris, Tarbert6 miles8 min by road
  3. Luskentyre Beach, HarrisLuskentyre Beach, HarrisThe largest and most spectacular of the Harris beaches, a great bay of white sand and turquoise water below the North Harris hills.9 miles11 min by road
  4. Nisabost beach from the rocks, white sand and turquoise water below green dunes.Nisabost Beach & MacLeod’s StoneA white-sand beach on the west coast of Harris, with a tall prehistoric standing stone on the headland above.10 miles12 min by road
  5. The red and white tower of Eilean Glas lighthouse and its white buildings on a rocky point above a blue sea.Eilean Glas LighthouseThe first lighthouse in the Hebrides, lit in 1789, a red and white tower on the east coast of Scalpay.14 miles22 min by road
Directions
Seilebost's curve of white sand and turquoise surf below a conical hill, from above.AttractionsSeilebost Beach, Harris8.4 miles
Chris plating lobster on blue plates in the Flavour kitchen, a row of dishes ready on the counter.RestaurantsFlavour10 miles
St Clement's Church at Rodel, its square tower rising above the churchyard under a blue sky.AttractionsSt Clement’s Church, Rodel14 miles
A curved timber-roofed house glows with lit windows at dusk, chairs set on the gravel and decking outside.Outer HebridesHarris HideawaySleeps 2 · 15 miles
Tweed scarves, "Love, Faith, Hope" boxes and Harris Tweed eggs on a shop counterAttractionsGrannie Annie's, South Harris15 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the road, and when each is next free.

A curved timber-roofed house glows with lit windows at dusk, chairs set on the gravel and decking outside.Harris Hideaway
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Outer Hebrides
  • 10 miles from the Golden Road
Free 16–18 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay in the Outer HebridesAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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For further reading, before you go.