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Harris
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Harris | |
| Scottish Gaelic: Na Hearadh |
|
  Harris shown within the Outer Hebrides |
|
| Population | 3,061 |
|---|---|
| Language | Scottish Gaelic |
| English | |
| OS grid reference | |
| Council area | Na h-Eileanan Siar |
| Lieutenancy area | Western Isles |
| Constituent country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Postcode district | HS3 |
| Dialling code | 01859 |
| Police | Northern |
| Fire | Highlands and Islands |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| Scottish Parliament | Western Isles |
| UK Parliament | Na h-Eileanan an Iar |
| European Parliament | Scotland |
| List of places: UK • Scotland | |
Harris (Na Hearadh in Scottish Gaelic) is the southern part of the largest island of the Western Isles of Scotland or Outer Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan Siar). The northern part of the island is called Lewis (Leòdhas). Despite the use of the terms 'Isle of Lewis' and 'Isle of Harris', the two names 'Harris' and 'Lewis' refer to the two parts of the same island. Lewis is, in general, the lower lying part of the island with Harris being the more mountainous.
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Harris divides naturally into northern and southern parts which are separated by West Loch Tarbert. These halves are joined by a narrow isthmus at the main settlement of Tarbert (An Tairbeart or Tairbeart na Hearadh), from which ferries sail to Uig in Skye. Harris was previously part of Inverness-shire, under older administrative divisions. In the 2001 census, Harris had a usually resident population of 3,601.
Harris is also known for Harris tweed, although it is mostly now made in Lewis.
In common with many parts of the Highlands and Islands Harris has numerous single-track roads with passing lanes at intervals.
The Sir E. Scott secondary school in Tarbert serves the whole of the Isle of Harris and Scalpay. This school has a primary and secondary department and can educate up to sixth year. The school has a very good reputation and the current headmaster is Mr Gordon Macdonald.[citation needed] The largest photovoltaic cell installation in Scotland is a 21 kWp system at the school.[1]
Harris has been described as the last bastion of fundamentalist Calvinism (see Religion in the Outer Hebrides), and sabbatarianism is still a highly contentious issue.
Most of the place names of Harris come from Old Norse. Hérað means "a type of administrative district" and possibly comes from an alteration of an unknown Pictish/Gaelic original.
North Harris, adjoining Lewis, contains Clisham (An Cliseam), the highest mountain in the Outer Hebrides at 799 metres. The area is sparsely populated. Beyond Tarbert, the furthest settlement is Hushinish (Hùisinis) on the west coast. A bridge from the east coast links Harris to the island of Scalpay (Scalpaigh na Hearadh).
In March 2003 the North Harris Estate was purchased[2] on behalf of the local community by the North Harris Trust. In April 2006 the Trust hosted the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company conference "Community Energy: Leading from the Edge"[3] in Tarbert. The largest photovoltaic installation in Scotland is a 21 kWp system at the Sir E. Scott secondary school also in Tarbert.[4]
The southern part of Harris is less mountainous, with numerous unspoilt, white sandy beaches on the west coast. Its main settlements are Rodel (Roghadal), known for its medieval kirk of St. Clement (Eaglais Chliamhain) which is under the care of Historic Scotland, is the most elaborate surviving medieval church in the Hebrides after Iona Abbey, and Leverburgh (An Tòb na Hearadh or An t-Òb na Hearadh) from which a ferry sails to Berneray (Beàrnaraigh na Hearadh), an island off the coast of North Uist (Uibhist a Tuath), to which it is joined by a causeway.
The road which runs along the east coast of Harris (from south of Tarbert to Rodel) is known colloquially as the "Golden Road" as it cost so much money to build, when it was built in 1897. It runs through the area of Harris known as Bays through the coastal townships Lickisto (Liceasto), Geocrab (Geòcrab), Manish (Mànais), Flodabay (Fleòideabhagh), Ardvay (Àird Mhighe), Finsbay (Fionnsbhagh) and Lingerbay (Lingreabhagh).
Of all the beaches on South Harris, Luskentyre and Scarista are considered by many to be the most spectacular. The scenery is some of the most breathtakingly beautiful in Scotland. From Luskentyre, the island of Taransay, where the BBC Television series Castaway 2000 was recorded, is seen most clearly. At Scarista the scene is much more sporting, as it is often the venue for surfing and kite buggying. Nearby the Harris Golf Club offers well kept greens and astounding views, but there is no play on Sundays. Scarista is the birthplace of the author Finlay J. MacDonald. Finlay wrote about growing up on Harris in the 1930s in his books: Crowdie and Cream, The Corncrake and the Lysander and Crotal and White and paints a very vivid and humorous picture of Hebridean life.
Tinted shots of parts of the island were used by Stanley Kubrick as the surface of Jupiter in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.[5]
- ^ "Scotland's largest Sun Energy system installed in Western Isles" (2 November 2004) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Press release. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
- ^ Islanders celebrate buy-out, BBC News Online, 1 March 2003
- ^ HICEC conference 2006
- ^ Comhairle nan Eilean Siar press release. Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
- ^ "Welcome to Film Hebrides" filmhebrides.com. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
- Pictures of Harris
- Panoramas of the Island (QuickTime required)
- Photographs and useful information about Harris
- The North Harris Trust
- Scarista Beach
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| Inner Hebrides | Ascrib Islands · Canna · Cara · Coll · Colonsay · Crowlin Islands · Eigg · Gigha · Iona · Isay · Islay · Jura · Kerrera · Lismore · Oronsay · Muck · Mull · Raasay · Rona · Rùm · Skye · Slate Islands · Soay · Staffa · Summer Isles · Tiree · Treshnish Isles · Ulva |  |
| Outer Hebrides | Barra (Isles) · Benbecula · Berneray · Eriskay · Flannan Isles · Great Bernera · Harris and Lewis · Monach Islands (Heisgeir) · North Rona · North Uist · Rockall · Scalpay · Shiant Isles · South Uist · St Kilda | |