Isle of Harris is part of the Outer Hebrides Islands, voted by The Times and House & Garden Magazine Survey Nr 2 in the WORLD's
top 10 holiday Islands - - - - - - - - A n e n v i a b l e l o c a t i o n - - - - - - - - - -
The enviable position of Rodel offers both the ROMANTIC atmosphere of the tranquil white sandy beaches facing the Atlantic on the West side as well as the lunar landscape of the Golden Road with its characteristic rocky coves on the East side. White Cottage sits right at the crossroad between these two spectacular scenery
HISTORY & CULTURE
With a millenial history dating back to Neolithic times, the village features a traditional rural crofting architecture with the St. Clement's Church as its main attraction which when hired for WEDDINGS looks even more magical.....
The church, erected in the early 1500, is renowned amongst visitors from all the world who flock to marvel at its incredibly preserved tombstones inside and outside
Culturally, the Hebrides have a strong music and Gaelic tradition. The Gaelic language is still widely spoken and can be heard throughout the island.
HARRIS TWEED – hand-woven in Lewis & Harris for centuries using pure virgin wool that has been dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides is the definition certified with the Harris Tweed Orb symbol.
As the Industrial Revolution reached Scotland, the mainland turned to mechanisation but the Outer Islands retained their traditional processes. Lewis and Harris had long been known for the excellence of the weaving done there, but up to the middle of the nineteenth century, the cloth was produced mainly for home use or for a local market. Nowadays of course it is exported all over the world. More of the cloth is in fact produced in Lewis but you can still see Harris tweed being woven in Harris on the west coast at Luskentyre - take the dead end road off to Luskentyre beach to get to them: DONALD JOHN McKAY in Luskentyre Harris Tweed Co. tel: 01859 550261. (all TWEED used at Harris White Cottage comes from him !)
LOCALLY - Leverburgh called after soap magnate Lord Leverhulme has on the west a vast stretch of shell sand: Scarista Beach. The road on the west coast of South Harris is not too hilly, running through the machair. You pass the island of Taransay, the site for the BBC television programme 'Castaway' (Ben Fogle). Shortly after this there is a steady climb of about three miles. At the end of the climb the road turns north again going directly to Tarbert.
If you'd like to get a flavour of the East Coast or GOLDEN ROAD is rocky and with stunning moon landscape scenery full of little coves and hundreds of small lochans full of water lillies. At the south end is St Clement's Church at Rodel where you will find HARIS WHITE COTTAGE our romantic cottage with SEA and LOCHS views. Dating from the 16th century the church has some outstanding medieval stone carvings. The east coast road twists and turns past small hamlets perched on the Lewisian gneiss that these islands are made from - the oldest exposed rock in Europe. It is rarely flat. At Ardvey on Loch Stockinish you can turn east to cycle to Tarbert via the Golden Road or keep on the main road for a more direct route.
SEALLAM VISITOR CENTRE, Northton - http://www.seallam.com/
Learn about the fascinating history of the Hebrides at the Seallam! Visitor Centre, located in Northton on the southern end of the Isle of Harris, boasts exhibitions which will suit all interests, plus visiting exhibitions throughout the year. Browse the exhibits which explore the social and natural history of the Hebrides and their island communities. Tea and coffee bar plus a craft shop in the reception area, and large selection of local books and music are for sale.
CALLANISH STONES
Located in the west coast of Lewis, the 5,000 year old Callanish Stones are famous all over the world. The Calanais Visitor Centre contains an interactive Story of the Stones exhibition, which explores how the standing stones were built and used and what they have meant to people through the centuries. This fascinating walk-through display has graphic panels, models and an audio-visual display with a seating area