Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
restaurant's food - like the owners - is Franc
o-Heb
ridean.
Mid-March to mid-Nov daily 6.30-8.30pm.
£120
Baile na Cille
Timsgarry (Timsgearraidh)
T
01851
672242,
W
bailenacille.co.uk.
A chaotic kind of place, run
by an eccentric couple who are very welcoming to families
and dogs and dish up wonderful set-menu dinn
ers for
£30
a head. Free wi-fi. Closed mid-Sept to mid-April.
£110
Kneep campsite
Kneep (Cnìp)
T
01851 672265.
Informal camping beside the wonderful sandy beach of
Reef Beach (Tràigh na Beirghe). It's run by the local
community and the only facilities are a small unisex toilet
block wit
h c
oin-operated showers.
Closed mid-Sept to
mid-April.
£6
/person
Suainaval
3 Crowlista (Cradhlastadh)
T
01851
672386,
W
suainaval.com.
The best B&B in the whole
area, run by a truly welcoming couple; rooms have pine
floors and fu
rnish
ings and fabulous views over the golden
sands of Uig.
£75
14
Harris (Na Hearadh)
Harris
(from the old Norse for “high land”), is much hillier, more dramatic and more
immediately appealing than Lewis, its boulder-strewn slopes descending to aquamarine
bays of dazzling white sand. Lewis and Harris are, in fact, one island, the “division”
embedded in a historical split in the MacLeod clan, lost in the mists of time. For the
record, the dividing line comprises Loch Reasort in the west, Loch Seaforth (Loch
Shìphoirt) in the east, and the six miles in between. Harris itself is clearly divided by a
minuscule isthmus into the wild, inhospitable mountains of
North Harris
and the
gentler landscape and sandy shores of
South Harris
.
Tarbert (An Tairbeart)
Sheltered in a green valley on the narrow isthmus,
TARBERT
is the largest place on Harris
and a wonderful place to arrive by boat. he port's mountainous backdrop is impressive,
and the town is attractively laid out on steep terraces sloping up from the dock.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMAT I O N
TA RBERT
By ferry
There are CalMac car ferries to and from Uig on
Skye (Mon-Sat 1-2 daily; 1hr 45min).
By bus
Tarbert is served by regular buses from and to
Stornoway, as well as a few other places.
Destinations
Hushinish (schooldays Mon-Fri 2-3 daily;
school holidays Tues & Fri 3 daily; 45min); Leverburgh
(Mon-Sat 6-8 daily; 45min-1hr); Leverburgh via the Bays
(Mon-Sat 2-4 daily; 1hr); Rhenigdale (by request
T
01463
731280; Mon-Sat 2 daily; 30min); Scalpay (Mon-Sat 4-6
daily; 20min); Stornoway (Mon-Sat 5 daily; 1hr).
Tourist o
ce
Harris's tourist o
ce is close to the ferry
terminal (April-Oct Mon-Sat 9am-6pm; open to greet
the evening ferry;
T
01859 502011).
ACCOMMODATION
Coel na Mara
7 Direcleit
T
01859 502464,
W
coelnamara.com.
With your own transport, this
secluded B&B, across the bay from Tarbert, is a good choice.
Nicely furnished throughout, with great views over East
Loch Tarbert. The
smal
lest and cheapest room doesn't have
en-suite facilities.
£90
Harris Hotel
Scott Rd
T
01859 502154,
W
harrishotel.
com.
Just a 5min walk from the harbour, this is Tarbert's
longest-established and largest hotel. It's been refurbished
fairly recently so it's a solid choice, with 23 en-suite rooms,
some with sea views, a
nd all
with free wi-fi - also serves
food, even on a Sunday.
£100
No.5 Hostel
5
Drinishader (Drinisiadar)
T
01851 511255,
W
number5.biz.
A converted
cottage, 3 miles south of Tarbert, offering bed linen and
laundry service along with canoes, kayaks and cycles for
hire
. Beds are in dorms, plus one twin. Closed Nov-Feb.
£20
/person
EATING AND DRINKING
First Fruits
Pier Road Cottage
T
01859 502439.
Ver y
pleasant tearoom behind the tourist o
ce, housed in an
old stone-built cottage and serving real coffee, home-
made cakes, toasties and so forth.
April & May Mon, Wed
& Fri 10.30am-4pm, Thurs & Sat 10.30am-3pm; June-
Sept Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-3pm.
Isle of Harris Inn
Scott Rd
T
01859 502566.
A lively
pub, next door to the
Harris Hotel
, offers very good fish and
chips (under £10) and the occasional seafood special.
Mon-Sat 11am-11pm; food served noon-9.30pm.
