Tarbert, Harris

Tarbert (Scottish Gaelic: An Tairbeart [ən̪ˠ ˈt̪ɛrʲɛbərˠʃt̪]) is the main community on Harris in the Western Isles of Scotland. The name means "isthmus", "crossing point" or "portage", in Gaelic.^[1][2] The isthmus, between the sea lochs West Loch Tarbert and East Loch Tarbert, joins south Harris to north Harris and Lewis. In 1981 it had a population of 503.^[3]

Tarbert Scottish Gaelic: An Tairbeart
The MV Hebrides at Tarbert pier
Tarbert Location within the Outer Hebrides
Population	503 (1981)
Demonym	Tairbeartach
Language	Scottish Gaelic English
OS grid reference	NG154999
• Edinburgh	191 mi (307 km)
• London	515 mi (829 km)
Civil parish	Harris
Council area	Na h-Eileanan Siar
Lieutenancy area	Western Isles
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ISLE OF HARRIS
Postcode district	HS3
Dialling code	01859
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Scottish Parliament	Na h-Eileanan an Iar
List of places UK Scotland 57.899°N 6.808°W / 57.899; -6.808

Tarbert's Church of Scotland parish church was built in 1862, and is within the parish of Harris.^[4] Tarbert also has a Free Presbyterian church.^[5] The Very Rev Mackintosh MacKay was minister of the latter in the 1860s.

Transport

Tarbert has a car ferry terminal which operates to Uig on Skye.^[6] The short A868 joins the terminal to the north–south A859 road.

Preceding station		Ferry		Following station
Terminus		Caledonian MacBrayne Harris Ferry		Uig

Economy

The Harris distillery, a Scotch whisky and Gin distillery is located in Tarbert.^[7]

The Harris Hotel is a well established hostelry in Tarbert. Originally known as the Tarbert Hotel after being built in 1865 by the 7th Earl of Dunmore as a 'sporting retreat' for anglers, the hotel has been in the hands of the same family since the early 1900s. J.M. Barrie, on his way to the estate of Amhuinnsuidhe in 1912, spent time at the hotel and engraved his signature in a dining room window.