For a long time sailing to the remote Scottish islands has only been within the reaches of the very rich.  In the last few decades the Highland infrastructure has improved dramatically. Because of this the islands are now accessible to all budgets and islands such as  the Western Isles (also known as the Outer Hebrides) can now be reached via plane or ferry. One of the main reasons why tourists travel to islands, such as the Isle of Harris and similar, is that, although tourism is an important part of the local economy, they are generally unspoiled. In the article below I introduce the small village known as Leverburgh on the Isle of Harris in the Western Isles of Scotland. Leverburgh is the second largest settlement on the island with the town of Tarbert being the largest.

One of the main attractions of the Isle of Harris is the countless beautiful beaches of golden sand which are located along the west coast of the island. The beaches feature the cleanest and clearest waters in the UK. Beaches such as Huishnish, Luskintyre, Seilabost and Nisabost are amongst the most popular, however you must not expect to be confronted with masses buckets and spades, beach towels, wind breaks and sand castles because  it is more common than not to find that you are the only person enjoying the breathtaking views.

Most of the best beaches are found on the south of Harris and all are within a few minutes drive from the village of Leverburgh. Leverburgh features a selection of accommodation including Grimisdale Guest House, with excellent self catering properties a few minutes away and a number of vital amenities such as a general store, Leverburgh is a highly suitable place to stay for a Western Isles touring vacation.

Lodging in Harris bed & breakfast is a enjoyable experience. The hospitality of Harris is renowned the world over and every accommodation provider go out of their way to ensure that all visitors have a superb vacation. Hotels are always spotlessly clean with clean bedding and towels and if you are in need of help or advice staff are always approachable.

The breathtaking landscape of the Western Isles supports a a wide range of plants and wildlife, some of which are dangerously rare or unique species. While it is rare to see a naturally growing tree on the Isle of Harris there are a small number of plantations in various parts of the islands. A few small pine forests where cultivated long ago and, thankfully the majority of recent plantations are of species which grow elsewhere in Scotland more suitable to the unique environment and certainly far more beautiful.

Man’s impact on the Isle of Harris is incredible at one time Harris was covered in trees. When mankind first settled on the islands of the Outer Hebrides, many thousands of years ago, they they lived on the coast. Surviving by hunting and fishing, and using the trees as fuel, gradually they settled further inland. In modern times fishing is still a vital industry and many local folk live on a croft (a small farm where they cultivate crops such as potatoes.

Farming the land develops land which is perfect for rare and endangered birds such as the Corncrake. An impressive variety of species of flora & fauna, Golden Eagles are often seen flying above and around Leverburgh are countless great sites to go birdwatching. Yearly numerous birdwatchers (twitchers) arrive in the Western Isles to catch a brief glimpse of a rare bird. Many visitors choose to spend some time in Leverburgh and then sail on the ferry over to the Uists to visit such places as the RSPB sanctuary.

If you are planning a vacation on the island please take a look at our listings of Harris hotel accommodation