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Distillery
Isle of Harris Distillery
Distillery in Tarbert making Harris gin and whisky, the first legal distillery built on Harris; CalMac mentions tours and tastings.
Directions Website Report a problem with Isle of Harris Distillery
A mini guide to
Isle of Harris & Tarbert
White beaches, the Bays, Tarbert and the church at Rodel
Photos
1 / 3Welcome to the area
White beaches, the Bays, Tarbert and the church at Rodel
Harris is the southern, more mountainous part of Lewis and Harris. Tarbert is its ferry port and main village, with the Isle of Harris Distillery near the pier. North Harris rises to the Clisham, at 799 metres the highest hill in the Outer Hebrides, and a single-track road runs west past Amhuinnsuidhe Castle to the beach at Hushinish.
South Harris has the long sands of Luskentyre and Seilebost on the west coast and the rocky Bays on the east. At the southern tip, St Clement's Church at Rodel was built for the MacLeod chiefs around 1500, and the ferry for Berneray and North Uist leaves from Leverburgh.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Beach
Luskentyre Beach
Long sandy beach on the west coast of Harris, reached from the A859 by a minor road.
Beach
Seilebost Beach
Sandy beach beside the A859 at Seilebost, across the estuary from Luskentyre.
Beach
Hushinish Beach
White-sand beach at the end of a 19 km single-track road, looking out to the uninhabited island of Scarp.
Medieval church
St Clement's Church, Rodel
Church built around 1500 for the MacLeod chiefs of Harris, described by Historic Environment Scotland as the grandest medieval building in the Western Isles.
Directions Website Report a problem with St Clement's Church, Rodel
Country house
Amhuinnsuidhe Castle
Category A listed 19th-century house by the B887 in North Harris, now run as exclusive accommodation and a sporting estate.
Directions Website Report a problem with Amhuinnsuidhe Castle
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Isle of Harris & Tarbert and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Drive the single-track roads with care
The roads to Hushinish, the Bays and Scalpay are single-track with passing places. Pull in to let others pass and never park in a passing place.
2
Swim with care
The beaches face the open Atlantic and the water is cold. Check conditions and swim only where you are confident.
3
Check seasonal openings
Some cafés close for the winter; The Bothy at Leverburgh, for example, says it is closed until next season.
4
Sundays are quiet
Many businesses on Harris close or open less on Sundays, so plan food and fuel the day before.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
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Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Isle of Harris & Tarbert (area photo): Zenit, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Isle of Harris Distillery: Coldupnorth, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Luskentyre Beach: Neil Aitkenhead, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Seilebost Beach: Neil Aitkenhead, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Hushinish Beach: Edward Crompton from London, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Clement's Church, Rodel: Gweduni, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Amhuinnsuidhe Castle: Les Ellingham, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- The Clisham: David Crocker, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Eilean Glas Lighthouse: simon stewart, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Talla na Mara: Steve Houldsworth, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- The Uists & Benbecula: Helen Spencer, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Barra & Vatersay: Conor Lawless from North Uist, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, source
- Isle of Lewis & Stornoway: LornaMCampbell, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring The Outer Hebrides