Heritage and Culture

  • Discover the culture and heritage of Harris, and immerse yourself in this vibrant and thriving place.

  • It is also important to respect that it is a working island with active crofts, farming, creative industries and a real sense of community, where you will often hear Gaelic spoken as a first language.

  • The Hebrides People visitor centre at Northton provides a fascinating insight into the history of Harris and the Outer Hebrides, including St. Kilda.

  • Sunday is respected in Harris and Lewis, most attractions are closed.

Shopping and provisions

  • Leverburgh (5 mins drive)

    • ‘An Clachan’ is the Leverburgh ‘Co-op’ and has an excellent range of food, drink, provisions, crafts, ATM and 24 hour fuel.

    • Harris Brewery, by the pier, sells beer, ale and has a great deli - also provides beer on draft and bar meals

    • AS Apothecary sells wellness focused hand blended high quality organic skincare, artisan coffee, hand blended tea and the famous Wild Eve drink, which is stocked in numerous Michelin starred restaurants. The skincare is stocked by the world’s best spas, including Claridges. From 2025/6, they will be closing the Temple Cafe in Northton and opening a holistic wellness centre in Northton - more info here

    • Borrisdale Tweed sells wonderful contemporary designer home furnishings in amazing custom colours.

  • Tarbert (45 mins drive)

    • AD Munro is a butchers, bakery and general grocer,

    • John Morrison offers home baking, news papers and grocery items and

    • Akrams is a general household store.

  • Most shops, galleries and cafes close on Sundays on Harris so please make sure that you stock up on anything required beforehand.

Harris Tweed, arts and crafts

  • Harris has amazing arts and crafts.

  • The world famous Harris Tweed was first woven by the Paisley sisters in Strond, just a few metres from Sea View House, and which is marked by a heritage sign. You will find many outlets which sell products made from Harris Tweed, including at the Saturday craft market in Tarbert.

  • Borrisdale Tweed specialise in contemporary home furnishings at their shop in Leverburgh, there are local weavers in Harris

  • Harris Tweed shop in Tarbert where you can buy many different items and also tweed on the roll.

  • An Clachan in Leverburgh stocks local arts and crafts.

  • On the east side of Harris, you will find world class art, ceramics and photography at The Mission House Studio, art and cakes at the Skoon Art Cafe and local artists at the Holmasaig Gallery.

Food and Drink

Harris has great places to indulge in wonderful culinary experiences, and whilst some of our favourites are mentioned below, there are new places opening all the time. Check via the links below or on facebook for opening times as some may be seasonal.

  • Wonderful sea views, crafts, cafe, restaurant and social events, visit Talla Na Mara, run by the North Harris Community Trust.

  • Take a visit to the Harris Distillery in Tarbert to try some of the world famous Harris gin, or the Heararch single malt whisky, and have a dram or cocktail at their excellent distillery bar.

  • The Harris Brewery offers a range of micro brewery small batch real ale craft beers and has a fantastic cafe and deli by the pier in Leverburgh, with live music at the weekends.

Self catering and picnics:

  • Stock up on freshly baked goodies at Croft 36 in Northton (get there early or order in advance)

  • From 2025 the much loved Temple Cafe will be closing as a cafe and reopening as a women’s holistic wellness centre offering treatments and massages - however you will still be able to buy their coffee, teas, Wild Eve and wellness products from the shop in Leverburgh. For more info

  • For fine dining and wonderful evening meals, book early for Scarista House.

  • Flavour restaurant in Tarbert offers a fantastic dining experience with local produce.

  • For a more informal ‘al fresco’ dining experiences there are a number of food trucks specialising in freshly caught seafood such as Lorna’s Larder which specialises in freshly caught scallops, haddock and monkfish, the Butty Bus on the pier at Leverburgh offering fresh home made ‘Harris style fast food’ and Berry Bliss which offers homemade real fruit ice cream in season, coffees and home baking at the Heritage Centre car park at Northton.

Doctors, dentists and pharmacies

  • Leverburgh has a small GP surgery, South Harris Medical Practice, contact details are in the link.

  • For any medical advice, which is not an emergency, call NHS inform on 111 from any UK phone.

  • Medical emergencies call 999 immediately.

  • Hospital, main branch pharmacies and dental services can be found Stornoway about 90 minutes drive away

  • If you need any special medication it could be helpful to bring it with you or stock up in Stornoway as there will be limited options locally.

Driving around

  • Harris has fantastic scenic roads and Sea View House is ideally placed for touring.

  • Sheep and cows frequently wander loose along the roads, especially on blind corners and have right of way - so please drive carefully in order to protect these important livestock.

  • Most of the roads in Harris are single track and it is essential to use the passing places to pull in to let others pass & get on with their day whilst you explore at leisure.