This article is about Harris in Scotland. For other usages see Harris (disambiguation).
Harris (Scottish Gaelic: Na Hearadh) is the southern part of the main island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. It divides naturally into northern and southern parts, joined by a narrow isthmus at the main settlement of Tarbert, from which ferries sail to Uig on Skye. Harris was traditionally part of Inverness-shire. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 3,601.
North Harris, adjoining Lewis, contains the Clisham, the highest mountain in the Outer Hebrides at 799 metres. The area is sparsely populated. Beyond Tarbert, the main settlement is Hushinish on the west coast. A bridge from the east coast links Harris to Scalpay.
The southern part of Harris is less mountainous, with numerous unspoilt, white sandy beaches on the west coast. Its main settlements are Rodel, known for its parish church decorated with a sheila-na-gig, and Leverburgh from which a ferry sails to Berneray, an island off of North Uist.
Harris is also known for Harris tweed, although it is mostly now made in Lewis.
Flag
The flag of Harris
The Harris flag is very similar to the flag of Lewis, its northern neighbour. It consists of four horizontal blue and three horizontal white stripes, in a reversed pattern from that of Lewis (four white and three blue). Whether the Lewis and Harris flags share the same origin is a subject for debate – whilst they share the same island, Lewis used to be part of Ross-shire and Harris, Inverness-shire.
External link
Flags of the world - Hebrides (http://www.fotw.net/flags/gb-heb.html)
Harris, from the old Norse meaning 'high land,' is often described as the 'high heart of the Hebrides'.
The Harris folk have a beautiful soft lilt in their accent and are often mistaken for being Irish: they certainly share the Irish sense of fun, hospitality and loyalty.
Harris has received a lot of media attention in the last two years, as it was host to the TV series Castaway 2000, the soon-to-be-released feature film 'The Rocket Post' and the forthcoming BBC production of 'Crowdie and Cream'.
The archipelago of the Western Isles numbers around two hundred islands, islets and tiny skerries, the majority uninhabited, stretching in a long chain for 130 miles from the northern tip at the Butt of Lewis to Barra Head in the south.
Historically, Harris is McLeod country, the deer park of the clan chiefs but by the 1830s, the McLeods faced bankruptcy and sold the land to George Murray, 5th Earl of Dunmore.
Harris has two distinct north and south regions divided by a narrow isthmus of land at Tarbert, where the ferry arrives from Skye.
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