Island of my Dreams, Harris

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The Hebridean Island of Harris, famous for the making of tweed, has, I think, woven its spell around me.

Being so far north and out in the Atlantic you would expect rain, wind and cold; not so last week!

I rather like this explanation that I saw:

I have to warn you there are a lot of photos, if you would like some music to help you along, this seems to encapsulate the breathtaking landscape and hugely contrasting moods of the Island:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUj4NTz-T5I

or try a band that are from the Hebrides, this music takes me back to the place I love every time I hear it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbM2BarUOfY&feature=related

Its a long way from Worcestershire, so first a few photos along the journey:

First lovely spot, with a few drops of rain, Glen Etive, just before Glen Coe:

And the misty awe-inspiring Glen Coe:

And look who was in the lay-by!! I hope he didnt need to read the music!!

A battle site over 300 years ago, now transformed into a gentle stream with bluebells and wild flowers along the banks!

In the background Eileen Donan Castle ~ hope they dont need this boat!

Leaving the mainland and ‘over the sea to Skye’ but in fact there is now a rather beautiful bridge across:

A short stop to look at the local weaving and growing happily in what was once an old croft were several of these wild [marsh] orchids:

Drying the wool in the sun ~ yes it was by now hot at 20 degrees:

Several of the smaller burns had dried up since there has been very little or no rain for 8 weeks up here; but on the island of Skye this refreshing stream ran over the rocks:

Leaving Skye we caught the ferry to Harris; this is the view from the house we stayed in: [no photoshopping it is really this colour sky!!!]

And here is the welcome! [home made]

And the view from the kitchen, looking a little bit like Telly Tubby hill!!! but this is real!

In the space of approximately 7 miles there must be 5 of the most stunning beaches in the UK ~ and you get them all to yourself!!!!!!!! This is looking over Luskentyre:

Water so clear it sparkles like jewels over the golden white sand:

Blue skies and blue as blue seas at Horgabost:

Sand made of 80% shell glows through the clear blue water in the sun; sparkling jade between the ancient rocks:

I cant resist a few more photos of Luskentyre ~ it almost seems beyond belief: almost too beautiful to be true:

I watched gannets diving into this bay but just a bit too far for my camera!

Looking across Luskentyre from Seilebost:

Just one more:

Such a beautiful place, has to have spectacular sunsets:

A little walk into the hills of North Harris and look who is here waiting:

Harris has so many colours, so many different aspects, these are some of the rock scattered hills and mountains and can you see the tiny little croft, nestled at the foot of the slopes?

Believe it or not this was growing at the very top of a 100 foot or more sheer cliff, exposed to the wind and rain, very little soil and look at the condition of it!! No idea how it got there, it was the only one:

Lower down, back in South Harris the salt marshes form interesting patterns:

Another beautiful glow as the sun sets over the land of my dreams:

Artists abound, this is a view from one of the studios:

Under deep cloud today, still the loch shimmers silver, within its rocky bed:

Onto lunch!! A simple menu but so very well done, always a home made soup with delicious fresh bread, hot smoked salmon, local cheeses, short bread, warming, healthy and so very good!!!

Harris, the isle of contrast, from sparkling beaches to stone-clad forbiddingly stark mountains, silvered inland lochs and the sea lochs of the rocky inlets of the east side of the island.

The ever present Oyster Catchers, calling their wild ‘peep peep’:

Another very familiar site, sheep alongside every road:

A little further north and joined to Harris is Lewis, you may have seen the Olympic torch setting out from the Callanish stones, they are around 5,000 years old:

Another shot, the tallest must be over 12 foot tall:

Fascinating ancient monuments, this one appears to have held a settlement with room to live, sleep, work, within its double walls:

Still on the Isle of Lewis ~ way up north and what do we find but a garden in the yellow book!!! I was amazed at what they could grow and how many plants they managed to pack in:

This pretty saxifrage:

The couple have been making this garden for 30 years, out of the wild grass and rock strewn land they originally took on, to begin with they lost 80% of the plants and then through trial and error they learned to cope and find ways and plants that worked:

Unbelievable colour! Helped of course by the Gulf stream that warms this coast:

Down into the boggier area:

You can just see the garden in its context of barren rock and windswept grass:

Returning back to Harris and one of the inland lochs sprinkled with waterlilies:

And the warm sun going down over Scarista beach, this would be after 10.30 at night and I would be on the beach till 11, it was still light!

Sadly [for me] the last day; a walk around Taobh Tuath [it sounded a bit like Toe Turrah]; cloudy but still those glistening white beaches and sea shimmering sapphire and jade:

With so little rainfall the machair this year is not as colourful; the flowers that grow on the peat and sand mixture beyond the beach is unique:

The old chapel, abandoned long ago, Im not sure how far the people had to walk in those days?

Looking back across the curved and empty beach:

Marsh marigolds grow wild in the ditches and boggier areas:

I have never seen so many lapwings, nor so close ~ in fact one of them was much too close for my liking, diving over my head ~ obviously protecting a nest:

There must have been almost a field of wild orchids where the lapwings lived, purple, pink and red, unbelievable!

A small island but it has captured me; from the bleak wild mountains, with only the wind and the birds crying to the sparkling jewelled lochs and beaches. It seems to understand how I feel but then it surprises me and shows nature at its utmost best, stunning colours and magnificence wherever you look. I cannot help but love it.

Apologies for a long blog, I just wanted to try to show you even a little of an island that is to me, the place of dreams. I would love to be there more but for now I have my photos and a bowl, made by someone who loves what he calls the ‘Windy Rock’ but this piece with its bare rock surrounds and the glistening blue of the sea and the lochs holds a treasure that is Harris:

This was made by a man who believes in ‘wabi sabi’ basically finding beauty in the imperfections, I think he is right and there is a lot of good in that thought.

Sometimes I feel like those bleak lonely mountains but Harris reminds me that somewhere, in the natural world, if you only look, there are sparkling jewels to make you stand in awe, to reflect, to appreciate, to breathe what is good and to smile.

19 Jun, 2012
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Comments

Willinilli

You are so clever Sticki, I dont even know how to put a link to a website in my blogs & here you are attaching scenes from your dreams, amazing!

What a place eh, I could certainly live there, I would'nt miss a thing back here.

Thanks for sharing a wonderful trip, all I ask is....
TAKE ME WITH YOU NEXT TIME!

19 Jun, 2012

Dianebulley

Brought back memories of when I went cycling there 20 years ago Sticki - thank you for the wonderful and thoughtful photography.

19 Jun, 2012

Hywel

That was just wonderful ! no need to say more ...

19 Jun, 2012

Nariz

What wonderful photos of such a wonderful place!! I want to go there! It's amazing! You obviously had a terrific time there, Sticki - and that beautiful bowl! I'm in danger of running out of expressive adjectives! Lovely! Lovely! Lovely!

19 Jun, 2012

Pimpernel

Tucked your beautiful blog safely in my favourites Sticki. I can see why you love the place as you do. That blue water looks as inviting as anywhere in the Med.

19 Jun, 2012

Paulsgarden

lovely pics Sticki - like the oyster catcher and lapwing - great sea and rock photos - beautiful place

19 Jun, 2012

Lulu33

In my favourites too.
What a very fine set of photographs to show us just how beautiful it is up there. Every shot is just one big WOW!
I love the boat planted up and that bowl, so effective.

19 Jun, 2012

Mark61

great blog sticki,fantastic pictures,there are some great views there.wonderful:))))

19 Jun, 2012

Pamg

Sticki its aweinspiring, your photographs and narrative combine to show your love of the beautiful isles..........

19 Jun, 2012

Lulu33

Love that quilt too........

19 Jun, 2012

Pixi25

ST you made me proud to be Scottish. Loved the whole blog and the music to go with it..that always gives me a lump in my throat. You have captured some of the beauty of Scotland so no aplologies for a long blog..it was a pleasure to see. Wonderful! :)))

19 Jun, 2012

Island of my Dreams, Harris

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