Hi there, As anyone any views, points, suggestions or recommendations with regard to camping on the West Coast of the Isle of Harris during spring, summer and or autumn seasons please.
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We did our first visit to Harris and Lewis in May this year. Spectacular scenery and very friendly locals and we were fortunate to have great weather. There are a couple of basic campsites and wild camping is generally accepted to.
Take lots of midgie repellant and waterproof clothing.
If it's not raining, the midgies will get you!
I went there some years ago and found a small quiet campsite (on a Friday). The owner asked me if I could leave on Saturday, because it was closed on Sundays!
There was a 'Build a new life in the country' programme , about a 'Gay' couple who opened a nice looking camp site on Harris. They entered a 'Civil partnership' recently, and just afterwards, a mini-tornado hit the island.
The local minister said that it was God showing his disapproval!
It's that kind of place!
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Now lets get the story right, Everyone knows the mini tornado wasn't just Gods fault, CALMAC had a hand in it too.
THIS is the link to Lickisto, John and Harveys campsite. It on the east coast of Harris with is more rocky and rugged whereas the west coast is better for beaches. It depends on what type of holiday you are looking for really.
You two are barred from posting pictures as it make me homesick
I've spent many hours and hours on those very beaches (in the photos and most of the others on the Island) and machair - have actually caravanned on Valtos machair too.
Can't say we were too bothered by midgies - maybe worst at peat cutting time when you spend time out on the moors your peat bank.
As for Sundays - well............. It used to be the whole Island completely came to a stand still every Sunday and I have known public toilets to be locked and even the swings in the play park in Stornoway to be chained up BUT ....... there has been progress (depending on how you look at it) and there is now a Sunday ferry service, restaurants are pen for meals and a drink, Engies is open (but has been for years and years) etc etc.
Go for it and visit - whatever the weather does it'll be an experience for you to remember
We were there for the whole of August and never saw (felt) a midge.
As Dadsbeaniemad says, Sundays are fine now and the only thing we did not do on a Sunday as oposed to any other day of the week was go shopping at the Co-ops. I don't know if they were open or not, but we just never bothered to try.
If it wasn't for the price of the ferry fares to take our car and caravan over, we would go there every year.
------------- Lobey.
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I'm glad to hear that the Islands are changing, but Mrs. L still recoils at the thought of the midgies that bit her mercilessly in the August that we visited!. There's no way I would get her back there - in the summer anyway.
There was an article in one of the Camping mags recently about a family who took there caravan over to Harris, I'm at work just now or I would go and find it.
Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 18/11/2009
We were there for the whole of August and never saw (felt) a midge.
As Dadsbeaniemad says, Sundays are fine now and the only thing we did not do on a Sunday as oposed to any other day of the week was go shopping at the Co-ops. I don't know if they were open or not, but we just never bothered to try.
If it wasn't for the price of the ferry fares to take our car and caravan over, we would go there every year.
We were also there for two weeks in august and were relatively untroubled by midges (although the weather, especially the gale force wind, was something else!).
The co-op was open on Uist on a sunday but only for a few hours in the afternoon.
We mostly wild-camped. Where else can you have a beach to yourself in mid august at the weekend?
Can't wait to go back, absolutely stunning part of the world.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Camping on the Isle of Harris.
