Introduction

Today, I am posting information on the coastal town and ferry port of Tarbert on Harris in the Outer Hebrides.

Information

Onomatology: The name means “isthmus”, “crossing point” or “portage”, in Gaelic. The isthmus, between the lochs West Loch Tarbert and East Loch Tarbert, joins south Harris to north Harris and Lewis.

Population: About 500 persons.

Ferry Connection: Principal route is the crossing to/from Uig on Skye. Journey time is about 1 hour 40 minutes.

Facilities: A range of lodgings from B&Bs to hotels is available.

Harris Tweed: There are weavers in and nearby together with outlets for retail purchase.

Whisky: The Isle of Harris Distillery opened in 2015. This produces whisky and gin. Tours are available and there is a canteen for refreshments.

Harris: This is not a stand-alone island but linked to neighbour, Isle of Lewis. Lewis is flat but Harris is a dramatic landscape of mountains and beaches.

Distance to Lewis: Tarbert is thirty-six miles south of Stornoway, the principal, town on Lewis.

Sightseeing: Just ten miles to the west is the famous Luskentyre sandy beach.

More information.

Information on Lewis, Harris and many other Scottish islands can be found in Visitors’ Guide to Scotland. ISBN is 978-1-9161332-0-4. Also available via Kindle.