BLS Spring Meeting 2022 – North Harris, Outer Hebrides.
Local organiser: Tristan ap Rheinallt
Meeting Base and Accommodation
The Scaladale Centre, Ardvourlie, Isle of Harris, HS3 3AB. Grid Ref NB187105
The Centre lies 15 miles south of Stornoway, Lewis and 11 miles north of Tarbert, Harris.
The BLS has booked the whole of the Centre on a self-catering basis. There are 6 bedrooms of varying sizes, which are being utilised to provide up to 18 bed spaces. Sheets / duvets / towels are provided.
Cost
The BLS have booked the whole centre for a week. The price per person will depend on the number of people staying at the centre. For example if all 18 bed spaces are used the cost is £20 pppn ( £140 for the week), for 12 places the cost is £30 pppn ( £210 for the week). I will bill attendees when the final numbers are known.
Booking
Attendees should book with the Field Meetings Secretary, Graham Boswell, email togooutdoors@hotmail.com or by post to Base Lodge 16 The Parks Minehead TA24 8BS. And pay a deposit of £50 in to the BLS account, CAF Bank sort code 40-52-40 No. 00012363, please reference your payment Harris.
Transport to the meeting
Caledonian MacBrayne operate ferries from Ullapool to Stornoway and Uig to Tarbert.
The bus service W10 (Stornoway – Leverburgh) connects Scaladale with both Stornoway and Tarbert.
Please endeavour to car share and arrange lifts where possible.
Maps
These OS 1:25000 maps cover the field sites currently under consideration:
- Explorer 456 - North Harris & Loch Seaforth (the meeting base is on this map)
- Explorer 455 - South Harris
- Explorer 459 - Central Lewis & Stornoway
Provisional Programme
Note that the programme is provisional and may be adjusted at the time to give the best chance of good weather at those sites that are more distant from the road.
We have permission to collect lichens anywhere within the North Harris Trust (NHT) area, except for the small area shaded green in the vicinity of Amhuinnsuidhe Castle. Note that North Harris Trust land does not include the immediate vicinity of Ardvourlie Castle, near the Scaladale Centre.
This permission from NHT gives us plenty of flexibility in the programme and alternatives for those who does not wish to accompany the main group on the longer (and steeper) walks planned for Wednesday and Friday. For example they might like to consider exploring areas adjacent to the main road in the direction of Tarbert, where there are several parking places; or along the minor road to Rheinigidale (NB2201) where there are parking places for one or two vehicles; or the western peninsula of the NHT area at Huisinis (car park at NA992120). There may also be interest in going further afield to explore cemeteries. Tarbert itself has mature trees, though most are on private land.
Also, the woodland shown on the map on the landward side of the Scaladale Centre is relatively recently planted and the trees are small.
Species list
VC%20110_BLS_Harris__%20meeting_MASTER_13-06-2022_DONE%20sgp%20bjc%20table%20v19.xlsx
