Tarbert (Na h-Eileanan Siar)

Lat:57.897 Lon: -6.803

Tarbert is the main port and capital village of Harris in the Western Isles.

It sits on the isthmus between East and West Loch Tarbert, which joins together North and South Harris. Most of the village of Tarbert sits along the side of East Loch Tarbert.

The settlement was founded in 1779. The harbour acted as a focal point, served the fishing fleet of the village. Tarbert grew in size and importance from 1840 when it became the destination for weekly mail steamers from Uig in Skye. Development of the port saw construction of first a wooden pier and later the current concrete ferry dock, which serves a vehicle ferry service that was introduced in 1963.

Features of the area

• Village
• Coast
• Fishing
• Harbour

Na h-Eileanan Siar Group

Na h-Eileanan Siar is one of Scotland’s 32 unitary council areas. It is governed by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the only local council in Scotland to have a Gaelic-only name, the title Western Isles Council having been retracted in 1997.

The council was created in 1975 and since 1999, there has been also the Western Isles constituency of the Scottish Parliament, sharing the same boundaries.

Elsewhere on the BBC

• BBC Highlands and Islands

Elsewhere on the web

• RCAHMS: Harris, East Loch Tarbert
• Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - Local History and Heritage
• Wikipedia: Harris