Sound of Harris
The Sound of Harris (Gaelic: Caolas na Hearadh) is a sea channel between the islands of Harris and North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. It is approximately 8 miles in width and provides the main sea passage through the Hebridean archipelago, from the Atlantic Ocean to The Minch.
There are many islands and numerous reefs in the Sound, the largest being Berneray, Pabbay, Ensay and Killegray. but the whole sound is dotted with fair islands and islets, and cruel-looking rocks. The men who sail the sound soon gain a healthy respect for it and its tides.
The Sound is part of the South Lewis, Harris and North Uist National Scenic Area.[1]
Ferry
Since 1996, a vehicle ferry links Leverburgh on Harris to Berneray, itself connected by causeway to North Uist. Until the Berneray Causeway opened, the ferry landed at Otternish on North Uist.
The service is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne and was provided by MV Loch Bhrusda until 2003, when she was replaced by the much larger, MV Loch Portain.[2] A buoyed route is marked to ensure the ferry’s safe passage between the shoals and skerries and in fog, which is not uncommon in these seas, navigation can be hazardous. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency require that the vessel only proceed if the next two marker buoys are visible.[3]
Footnotes
- ↑ "National Scenic Areas". SNH. Retrieved 30 Mar 2011.
- ↑ "Sound of Harris Ferry". Undiscovered Scotland. http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/harris/ferry/index.html. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- ↑ "Loch Bhrusda". Ships of Calmac. http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/profile_loch_bhrusda.asp. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
| The islands of the Sound of Harris, Inverness-shire | ||
|---|---|---|
| Harris |
Berneray • Boreray • Keallasay More • Ensay • Gilsay • Groay • Hermetray • Killegray • Opsay • Pabbay • Sgarabhaigh • Shillay • Stromay • Sursay • Tahay • |
North Uist
|