Recommendations for Harris?

[astral_weeks]

I'm going to Harris for the first time on Weds, for a week, but I've had zero time to plan anything. Got a meeting in Stornoway til about 3pm, then I'll head over to Harris on a bus and/or hitching.

1. Where's a good place for me to head to pitch the tent on the first night?

2. Open to any hill/walk recommendations! Especially things that would tie together nicely into a few days

Thanks, proper appreciated

[malky_c]

Not sure about tent pitches, but they aren't too hard to come by. Anywhere with a beach should be good.

The obvious hill is Clisham, but including the ridge over to Mullach Bho Deas makes it a much better walk. Any of the other 2000ft summits are worth the effort if clear as well.

You can pretty much go up anything over 100m in height and get great views, so you are spoilt for choice. If the higher hills are in the cloud (or even if they aren't), Ceapabhal (near Northton) is an absolute must. It sits just off the main body of the island and has some of the best views of the west coast beaches. Beinn Dubh just south of Tarbert is also highly recommended (have to admit I haven't been up it yet), as is Todun on North Harris.

You should also take a trip down to the road-end at Hushinish on North Harris for the beaches and coast there. Just noticed you have no car, but the bus service isn't too bad for such a sparsely populated area. Hitching is dead easy on the main roads, but on quieter roads like the one out to Hushinish, you can go for the best part of an hour without seeing a car sometimes. Bus timetables here if you haven't found them yet:
https://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/popular-tasks/bus-services/

I'm jealous - wish I had a week on Harris. Have fun!

[mynthdd2]

ace campsite at Horgabost.....ace Gatliffe hostel at Rhenigdhal just outside Tarbert

[jmarkb]

I can certainly recommend the Clisham round https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/outer-hebrides/clisham-horseshoe.shtml and the two ridges to the west ( https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/outer-hebrides/uisgneabhal-mor.shtml and https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/outer-hebrides/oireabhal.shtml ), as well as the Giolabhal Glas / Sgaoth Aird round just to the north of Tarbet. I'm sure you could link some or all of these together into a good multiday trip. It is worth visiting the north side of Sron Uladail, a good contender for the steepest cliff in the UK!

If you have the opportunity and sea legs (and funds!) a day trip to St. Kilda is a fantastic experience.