After our recent two week stay on the Isle of Skye, we journeyed further north and west to the Isle of Harris. We were staying in the northern, mountainous part:
The Outer Hebrides, with the Isle of Harris in red (image from Wikipedia)
It was beautifully remote and dramatic:
We tried to make friends with the neighbours:
But they were having none of it:
So we contented ourselves with watching them from afar:
There was certainly plenty of space for everyone to do their own thing. Immense, sweeping, breath-taking space. And if you look closely at this shot (click to enlarge), you will see a marvellous testament to the UK postal system. Collections were made from this post box every morning (except Sundays) at 08:30:
Yet there were places, particularly in the southern part of the island, where space became space-opera, with Luskentyre Beach playing a leading part. This is the most amazing spot. Miles and miles of clean, soft white sand, edged with a turquoise sea and, oh!, the skies!! It is impossible to do justice to this unforgettable location, but here are a few shots which give you some idea…
Incredible.
A match for the sense of space was the spectacular light. With this last set of photos, none have been edited or enhanced: these were the very colours we experienced around our holiday property:
Harris gave us a virtuoso performance, which was moving and memorable.
The earth has its music for those who will listen.
~ George Santayana
After our two weeks on Skye and our week on Harris, the location for our fourth and final week, South Uist, had a lot to live up to. Could it possibly do so…..?
Absolutely heavenly, Liz! You must have found it hard to leave and move on to the next place!
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Thank you Clare! And yes, moving on was tough, but worth it….. 🙂
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🙂
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Fabulous photos, Liz. A lovely holiday for you and beautiful memories. Xx
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Thanks Mum – yes, it is really nice even this soon after the trip to look back through the photos. X
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That looks absolutely wonderful, the sky like paintings. Just like in a gallery. What amazing scenery!
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I got neck ache from looking up at the sky all the time!! 🙂
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Oh Liz, so beautiful! I’ve been having a somewhat frustrating day thus far and was feeling rather grumpy. (Surely not, I hear you cry!) A few minutes watching those amazing skies scroll through and I’m feeling calm and peaceful again! So many wonderful vistas 🙂 I’m looking forward to South Uist now!
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I’m so pleased to have been of service, Sandra! 🙂
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Wow–these photos are spectacular! What a gorgeous spot, yet one more on this amazing trip! How did you spend your days? Rambling and simply enjoying the solitude?
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Plenty of rambling, sitting and looking, birdwatching, listening – just taking it all in really.
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Amazing scenery, Liz, and equally amazing photos. I hope you made use of that post box. They are an endangered species; at least they are in our city.
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Thanks, Mandy. We missed a trick by not posting something in that box – a good reason to return! 🙂
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Oh goodness… yes. It’s one of the must do things of a holiday; post a card to arrive back home, or at a friend’s, days after your holiday is actually over. 😀
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It’s a mark of how things have changed that it did not even occur to me to send a postcard! This used to be compulsory when I was a child on holiday.
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🙂 🙂
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Hello, I just happened upon this post as my Husband and I are traveling up to Harris this week! Your photos are amazing, I can’t wait to see it all for myself! Did you have any interactions with people living on the island at all? We have found lots of information about the landscape but not much about local community.
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Hello, and how lucky you are to have this trip ahead of you – you’ll love it. There were not many people around (one of the reasons why we love being on Scottish islands, lol), but everyone we met was friendly. I can highly recommend the First Fruits cafe in Tarbert – such friendly and warm staff. This is a few steps from the Tourist Information Office, so very handy. Also worth a visit is this visitor centre, with masses of information about the island’s community history 🙂 https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/seallam-visitor-centre-p253101
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Wow. You captured some beautiful scenes there, Liz.
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Thanks so much Cynthia!
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Luskentyre! The beach burned into the mind of Higher English students who were taught Norman McCaig poems. ‘Aunt Julia’ is my favourite, along with ‘By the Graveyard, Luskentyre’. 🙂
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Thank you so much for this reference. Having been educated in England I have never come across Norman McCaig and am so glad you have introduced me now. Those two poems you mention are wonderful – I have vivid memories of the Luskentyre graveyard and his writing is utterly evocative of the place. 🙂
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