Harris Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
southern part of the Scottish island Lewis and Harris
About Harris
Harris and Lewis are made of very old rocks, gneiss laid down three billion years ago. It's impermeable and where it lies flat as on Lewis it forms a boggy plateau, while on Harris it's contorted into gnarly heights. Both terrains are infertile, supporting little more than rough grazing. There's no mineral wealth and inhabitants scratched out a living with sheep, garden crops such as kale and later potatoes, and fishing. Roads didn't exist until modern times and you had to get about by sea. In the early Medieval period this brought the Outer Hebrides under Viking / Norse control, so place-names reflect this even though they've later been Anglicised or Gaelicised. That control weakened in the 13th century and after their defeat at Largs the Norsemen ceded the Hebrides to Scotland, while ret
Harris Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 10 sections including: