The Gaelic language is a most poetic ancient language still spoken in areas such as the Outer Hebrides/Western Isles of Scotland. The language includes some of the most beautiful phrases used to describe things that are rather common and generally considered, by modern society, as unimportant. One such phrase is Ceol na Mara which describes the sound of the sea and means andquot;music of the seaandquot;. You may see a number of seaside guest houses bearing the name of andquot;Ceol na Maraandquot; as it is a highly popular name in places where the Gaelic is common.
The Outer Hebrides consist of a number of inhabited islands which are found off the west coast of Scotland. The main town is Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. The isle of Lewis is joined to the Isle of Harris and are together known as the long island. Throughout the Isle of Harris most people have Gaelic as their first language and English as their second. The accent is incredibly soft but also very clear and the English spoken is beautiful and sometimes contains phrases akin to the Gaelic phrases (and Gaelic also contains many English words but usually for most modern things such as television).
If you ever have the opportunity to visit this part of the world you will immediately notice how clean and pure everything is. The Outer Hebrides must be one of the least polluted places in the United Kingdom with the air so clean and fresh that you immediately feel relaxed. The waters of the many lochs and the sea are so clear that you can see far down and diving is a wonderful experience. However it is the beaches that most people find most beautiful. On South Harris are some of the most beautiful shell sand beaches in Europe.
The Hebridean culture has a long, and sometimes troublesome, past. At one time the islands of the Hebrides we ruled by the Lords of the Isles. These rulers, especially Somerled, were incredibly powerful and something of a threat to the kings of Scotland. It was during this period that the unique mix of the Nordic and the Celtic cultures helped create the wonderful Hebridean culture. Both cultures have a deep understanding of poetic writing and even today the 'Bard' is an important member of society who writes poems and songs, often influenced by Ceol na Mara and the countryside.
As well as the incredible beaches, gorgeous countryside, amazing culture and immensely interesting flora and fauna, the Isle of Harris has only a few places that could be described as andquot;tourist attractionsandquot;. The main reason for visiting Harris is the fact that it has hardly been developed. Over the last few years there have been improvements with a few facilities for tourists but generally it is hardly commercial. There are a few places worth visiting on the Isle of Harris besides the beaches. At the very tip of Harris is the small village of Rodel where you will find the most incredible medieval church with a fascinating graveyard. The key is available from the local hotel and I strongly suggest that you get it. Inside you will find ancient carvings around tombs and upon some gravestones now stored inside for safety.
If you want to experience the culture, beauty and unique sounds (such as Ceol na Mara) of the Outer Hebrides then you simply must visit the Isle of Harris. Getting to Harris is relatively easy. The easiest way is to catch an aeroplane to Stornoway on Lewis and drive down to Harris but most people come by ferry. The main ferry runs from Uig on the Isle of Skye to Tarbert in North Harris. It is also possible to catch a ferry to North Uist and catch a further ferry across to the small village of Leverburgh in South Harris.
One or two of the guest houses on the Isle of Harris are known as Ceol na Mara as many are very close to the shore and most have wonderful views out to sea. Besides the incredible views from the guest houses of Harris the hospitality is truly incredible and of the highest standard. Harris is so wonderfully peaceful that you can often hear the music of the sea as you drift off to sleep.
The hospitality is also noteworthy in all of the Harris hotel accommodation. Ardhasaig House is a small Harris hotel just outside Tarbert in North Harris. This hotel has some of the best views out of all the hotels and is extremely convenient for both South Harris and all of the Isle of Lewis. Although it is slightly too far from the sea to hear Ceol na Mara you do get wonderful views of the sea and out across the Harris Hills.

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