Travelling to Isle of Harris from NE England

[MadameGazelle]

Hi - I'm looking at booking a holiday to Harris next Summer. Does anyone have any recommendations on the best way to travel there from NE England, good locations to stay on Harris and recommendations for beaches (DH is a surfer). TIA

[Dowser]

Gosh you're brave . It's about 9 hours

[BarchesterFlowers]

We did this a couple of years ago but from Norfolk!! We went to Harris via the ferry from Skye but we spent three weeks on the west coast and islands so there could be a better route (but i think that is the direct ferry from memory).

We were camping and stayed here, they have got yurts if you like that sort of thing.

[BarchesterFlowers]

Missed out the journey bit. Oban is a good place to stop, we live near York these days and York to Oban is 5 ½ hours, Oban to Skye is about the same so a full day each with a couple of stops, a walk and lunch.

[BobbinThreadbare123]

I went up from NW England by car. Took us basically 12 hours because of the ferry off Skye etc as well. Harris is beautiful. Definitely go to Luskentyre beach. Do some walking. Enjoy the windswept scenery.

[Piffpaffpoff]

The fastest wat is to go to Inverness, then to Ullapool then ferry to Stornaway and drive down to Harris.

If you can stop overnight on the way up, I'd go to Mallaig, stay there, ferry to Skye in the morning, leisurely drive across Skye then ferry from Uig to Tarbert. That's the scenic route! Don't underestimate how long it will take to drive across Skye though, longer than you'd expect!

There are some good surfing beaches on N Uist, it's a short ferry-ride from Leverburgh on the maddest wee ferry that weaves in and out of skerries and sandbanks between the two islands.

[VanillaSugar]

piffpaffpoff is right. We went from Yorkshire. We stayed at Inverlochy Castle (Fort William ) and then caught the ferry from Ullapool (it's a bit bouncy) and drove down to Harris. We stayed at Scarista House and it was lovely!

[Piffpaffpoff]

Oooh, two lovely hotels that I'd love to stay in. 15yrs ago we stayed in a b&b just up from Scarista House and we weren't married and I was terrified we would mortally offend the owner by only having one room. And they had wee signs up saying no tv on Sunday! I loved that holiday, we cycled the Uists and Harris and it was amazing.

[VanillaSugar]

It was my honeymoon so DH treated me!! We sat behind Jeffrey Archer in the restaurant at Inverlochy Castle and then also stopped off at Loch Torridon where we had the pleasure of Charles Kennedy - lovely man - I was disappointed that Tony Blair didn't greet us at Scarista House to make a political hattrick but, you knew, can't win 'em all.

[VanillaSugar]

Yes, I understand that the people of Harris are a bit..... religious (can I say that?).

[BikeRunSki]

I've not been to Harris, but once spent 6 weeks on Raasay, where I was severely reprimanded for hanging out my washing on a Sunday.

[Piffpaffpoff]

Raasay last summer

[weegiemum]

Its brilliant, I lived in Harris for 10 years and we still have our house there that we rent out to tourists when we're not staying there ourselves. One day we will go back.

Fastest way for you from NE England would be Edinburgh - Perth - Inverness - Ullapool - - Stornoway - Harris.

Most scenic way would be Edinburgh - Perth - Crianlarich - Fort William - Kyle of Lochalsh - Skye - - Uig - - Tarbert. (can be very slow in summer with caravans etc).

If you want any tips for places to stay/eat/visit please get in touch. You will have an amazing time!!

[Happydays21]

Weegiemum are you able to link to your house or pm us? Thanks