The Golden Road

Harris | Rodel | Scenic road | ★★★★

[The Golden Road at Finsbay]

It sounds like something from a fiction book, and indeed, the views from The Golden Road are out of this world. Apparently named as a reference to its colossal construction cost, these 21 miles of single-track tarmac snake their way up the east side of South Harris through, at times, a lunar-like landscape composed more of rock than grass. Each bend (and there are many) brings new, spectacular views of unspoiled hills, coastline and abundant wildlife: seals, eagles and sheep after sheep. The names of the scattered settlements have a distinctly unearthly feel too: Geocrab, Likisto, Ardslave... generally anglicised, roughly phonetic versions of the original Gaelic. Do it in a northbound direction to keep the sun (if there is any) behind you. The scenery is at its very best for the first half of the route; north of Likisto there are a couple of ways to curtail the route by cutting across to the main A859 road. But on a sunny day such as ours... why would you?

[Geocrab]

Location & info

📌 The Golden Road ★★★★
Isle of Harris between Rodel and Tarbert. Middle of the road is around Flodabay, G.R. NG 098888 ///seagulls.disco.facing. South end is at A859 junction, Rodel, G.R.: NG 049831 ///logic.slugs.fend. North end is at A859 junction 3 mi south of Tarbert, G.R.: NG 145971 ///bubbles.playing.mailers

▶ 33 km / 21 mi
Surfaced, unclassified road, mostly single track and unsuitable for long vehicles
Always open | Free