Scarista Dream

Scarista Beach: Isle of Harris

The changing colours of Scarista Bay. Another of Harris’s famous beaches, this one sits back a little and you have to know how to find it. Luckily, the best way is to watch out for an old bus in the field. Seriously.

Personally, I can spend hours and hours driving and walking between spots like this and thank god really, because on Harris there is really very little to do. But with such a constant feast for the eyes what else could you want. It is most common to visit the Western-Isles in the summer and it is understandable why (the weather in winter is, if we’re being kind, unpredictable at best), however, during one clear day in February I saw it absolutely transformed. The misty pinks above were at about 3pm not long before the sun went down and I was left all alone to soak it in. One other benefit of winter is that the midges are also nowhere to be found!

Again, the pure joy here is that it is remote, beautiful and unspoiled. There is nothing to do here but soak it in. So take yourself a picnic and do exactly that.

Get there: Drive south from Tarbert on the main road to Leverburgh. You will drive through Scarista village itself (marked with signage) and a few minutes after you leave, if you look careful, you will pass a layby on the right and spot the bus in the field. Scarista is on the other side of the field. Go through the gate (as always, close it behind you) and walk across the field. There is a little gate on the opposite side which leads to the beach. Once through, walk down through the dunes and enjoy!

[Please note: there are often cattle in the field - keep dogs on leads and make sure not to bother them]