Outer Hebrides

A Day on the Isle of Harris

A day by car, from Tarbert to Isle of Harris Distillery.

Written by Graeme Johncock

When most people think of the Isle of Harris, they conjure up images of beautiful sandy coastlines with mountains looming in the distance. I won’t deny you can find some of the best beaches in Scotland here, but there’s also a lot more to Harris than that. This is an island with a very long history and as a lover of stories, as well as outdoor spaces, Harris is somewhere I never get tired of visiting.

How: A day by car
Distance: About 42 miles
Starts: Tarbert
Ends: Isle of Harris Distillery
Good for: Food and drink, Islands, Beaches, Whisky

The day

Tarbert
An attraction
Tarbert is the main settlement on the Isle of Harris, where most visitors arrive by ferry and that goes a small way to explaining the name. Tarbert literally means “drag boat” and centuries ago, sailors would rather drag their vessels across this narrow point than sail all the way around the island! It’s somewhere most people will begin a day around Harris and if you’re looking for a morning coffee then head for the Loomshed Deli!
The rest of this day is for members.
7 more stops, what to do at each, and the drive between them. Members read every one of our days, and the magazine.
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Nisabost Beach & MacLeod’s Stone
An attraction
St Clement’s Church, Rodel
An attraction
Grannie Annie's, South Harris
An attraction
Talla na Mara Community Cafe
A café
Luskentyre Beach, Harris
An attraction
Harris Tweed Isle of Harris, Tarbert
A shop
Isle of Harris Distillery