March Newsletter – Harbour spotlight
Tarbert (Harris)
Located in the main village on the Isle of Harris, the harbour is a five-minute walk from The Isle of Harris Distillery, Isle of Harris Tweed Shop, and local bus stance.
The harbour and the ferry terminal have recently undergone a £22m upgrade. Phase one of the project was completed in early 2022, with the development of a new pier, fendering system, dredging and increased marshalling area. There was virtually no disruption to ferry services during the work, and the project has already won a Scottish Civil Engineering Marine Infrastructure award.
The second phase of the project resulted in a brand-new £1.5 million ferry terminal building, which opened in January 2023. Local contractors Lewis Builders of Stornoway were appointed to complete this phase of the project, bringing expert local knowledge and understanding of the location.
Passengers now benefit from increased seating and the building is the first public location in Harris and Lewis to have Changing Places toilet facilities for people with additional needs. The final phase of the project included removal of the temporary terminal building, completion of the east end of the marshalling area and installation of electric vehicle charging points and a cycle shelter.
Need to know:
- New terminal building
- Changing Places toilet facilities
- Chargeplace Scotland EV charging station
- Large free car park
Fast facts:
- Approximately 1,100 ferry movements per year, with up to two crossings per day
- First Changing Places facilities in Lewis and Harris
- Ferry direct to Uig departs here – the crossing takes 100 mins, in CMAL-owned ferry MV Hebrides
- The berth can accommodate vessels of up to 100m in length and up to 4.0m draught