Lewis and Harris

Lewis and Harris is the largest island in Scotland.

It serves as the primary island within the Outer Hebrides archipelago. This island group is located near the Scottish mainland. Geographically, it is the third largest island in the British Isles. Only Great Britain and Ireland are larger in size. The island covers an area that is approximately 1% the size of Great Britain. Although it has two names, it is actually a single landmass.

The island is physically divided by a range of mountains. The northern two-thirds of the land is known as Lewis. The southern third is known as Harris. People often refer to them as separate islands. This is because there are many cultural and linguistic differences between the two parts. The boundary line is quite specific. It begins at Loch Resort on the western coast. From there, it travels east to Loch Seaforth. The line passes through several high mountain peaks, including Tom Ruisg and Mullach a' Ruisg.

The A859 is the only road that connects the two sections.

Historically, the boundary was defined by the lands of different clans. The boundary once separated the Clan MacLeod of Harris from the Clan MacLeod of Lewis. A legal dispute over this line led to court inquiries in 1805 and 1850. To settle the matter, Lord Chief Justice Campbell walked the boundary on foot. This helped determine exactly where one region ended and the other began.

Today, the entire island group is managed by the Western Isles Council.

The landscape varies significantly between the two regions. Harris is a very hilly area. It contains more than thirty peaks that rise above 500 metres. The highest peak in Harris is called Clisham, which is classified as a Corbett. Lewis is comparatively flat in many areas. However, it does have high points like Ben More in the southeast. Lewis also contains Loch Suaineabhat. This is the deepest lake on any offshore island in the British Isles. It reaches a maximum depth of 60 metres and has a mean depth of 23 metres.

Human history on the island stretches back thousands of years. Evidence suggests people settled near Stornoway as early as 6000 BC. This includes Neolithic burial cairns and Bronze Age occupation sites. The Callanish Stones were erected roughly 5,000 years ago. These stones date to the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age. In the 9th century, Norsemen dominated the island before converting to Christianity. Later, the Lewis chessmen were discovered in Uig in 1831. These 12th-century pieces were carved from walrus ivory.

The economy of the island relies on several distinct industries. Tourism is the main mainstay for the Outer Hebrides. It generates approximately £65 million in economic value. About 219,000 visitors arrive each year. Visitors travel to see spectacular beaches like Luskentyre or historical sites like Dun Carloway. Another vital industry is the production of Harris Tweed. This is the only commercially produced handwoven tweed in the world. By law, it must be handwoven by islanders in their homes. It must also be made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides.

Other important economic activities include crofting and fishing. Crofting involves small-scale food production on various sized plots. There were over 920 active crofters reported in 2020. The fishing industry focuses heavily on aquaculture, which is fish farming. Conventional fishing also continues with vessels targeting prawns, crabs, and lobsters. Stornoway serves as the main town and a major hub. It features a sheltered harbour that was once called Steering Bay by Vikings. Recently, a £49 million investment was planned for the Stornoway Deep Water Terminal. This will allow larger cargo vessels and cruise ships to visit the island.