Walking through the dunes towards Sgarasta Mhòr beach – the beach at Scarista. Another one of the amazing beaches on the Isle of Harris, it seems endless.
Sgarsta Mhòr is located on the southern coast of the island and offers an amazing view towards the mountains on all sides.
Found some dogs, as always.
Goodbye Lewis, it was time for my last few days in Harris and as always I had to stop as soon as this view of Luskentyre comes up – lucky me there is a bit of parking space at the perfect stop.
And another stop to admire Seilebost and Luskentyre.
Rodel used to be the capital of Harris and the main port before Tarbert took over. There is a lovely walk along a loch up to the St Clements Church in Rodel. I didn´t do this walk back then, but last November when I was back in Harris for a workshop.
The Church of Rodel, St Clement’s Church (Tur Chliamainn), was built in about 1520 by Alexander MacLeod of Dunvegan and Harris. It is the grandest medieval building in the Western Isles.
St Clements was probably built on the site of an even older church and fell into disuse after the Reformation in 1560. But the graveyard remained the preferred site for MacLeod’s burials.
After a few restorations and renovations over the centuries, the church had fallen into despair again and the Countess of Dunmore arranged for it to be repaired in 1873.
Today the Historic Environment of Scotland cares for the church.
Entry is via a door in the north side of the nave. The interior of the church is a plain cruciform in shape, with north and south transepts not quite mirroring one another on either side of the nave. The nave and the choir would originally have been separated by a wooden screen. Almost opposite the door, in a window opening on the south side of the nave, is the head of a late medieval disc-headed cross, showing the crucifixion on the front. (Undiscovered Scotland)
Amazing views from behind the church.
Following up the road behind the beach you will soon see a bridge – but it is a bridge to nowhere, the road ends there. A story of a failed project by the soap manufacturer Lord Leverhulme, founder of the Lever Brothers (Or Unilever, like we know it today).
IN 1918 BUSINESSMAN, LORD LEVERHULME, took a boat trip and fell in love with the islands. So much so that he decided to purchase the land. Reports vary, but it’s believed he purchased the land for £150,000. (Atlas Obscura)
Leverhulme wanted to bring new jobs and business to Lewis & Harris and to support the fishing industries he wanted to build a road from Tolsta to Ness. But when the road reached Garry beach the plan was finally abandoned, the land was just too hard & boggy to construct a road.
the unofficial road to nowhere meets the officially titled Bridge to Nowhere, an exquisite 30m traverse whose nine arches rise 15m above the Stone River. (The Independent)
The road splutters on for a few metres the other side, where it whittles to a narrow, stony track accessible only to local peat cutters. The track contours thrillingly, as though stitching the moors and cliffs together. (The Independent)
Hiking path towards Ness.
