Harris
From Free net encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Harris (disambiguation).
Image:An Cliseam - Harris.jpg Harris (Na Hearadh in Scottish Gaelic) is the southern part of the main island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, the northern part of which is called Lewis, however Harris and Lewis are treated by Scots as separate islands in their own right, so Harris is officially known as the Isle of Harris.
Harris divides naturally into northern and southern parts, joined by a narrow isthmus at the main settlement of Tarbert, from which ferries sail to Uig on Skye. Harris is traditionally part of Inverness-shire. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 3,601.
Harris has been desribed as the last bastion of fundamentalist Calvinism (see Religion in the Outer Hebrides)
Harris is also known for Harris tweed, although it is mostly now made in Lewis.
Harris is notable for its single-track roads with passing lanes at intervals.
Most of the place names on Lewis and Harris come from Old Norse. Lewis and Harris came via Old Norse Ljóðhús = "people-house" and Herað = "a type of administrative district" from alterations of unknown Pictish originals.
North Harris
North Harris, adjoining Lewis, contains the Clisham, the highest mountain in the Outer Hebrides at 799 metres. The area is sparsely populated. Beyond Tarbert, the main settlement is Hushinish on the west coast. A bridge from the east coast links Harris to Scalpay.
South Harris
Image:Scotland Harris 1.jpg The southern part of Harris is less mountainous, with numerous unspoilt, white sandy beaches on the west coast. Its main settlements are Rodel, known for its medieval kirk decorated with a sheila-na-gig, and Leverburgh from which a ferry sails to Berneray, an island off of North Uist.
The road which runs along the east coats of Harris (from south of Tarbert to Rodel) is known colloquially as the "Old Golden Road" as it cost so much money to build, when it was built in 1897 by Jamie Harris. It runs through the area of Harris known as Bays through the coastal townships Ardvay, Geocrab, Flodobay, Finsbay and Lingerbay.