The Golden Road, Harris, Outer Hebrides
A year in 20 photographs 2/20 – the Golden Road, Harris
I took this photo of a Canadian couple on our Hebridean Way trip as they cycled along the Golden Road on Harris in the Outer Hebrides.
It was one of those occasions when you try to get the same image with several riders beforehand. As always, there are factors that prevent it from being the photo that you want – a car passing; poor light; the cyclist in the wrong place on the road. However, it seems that I always manage to get the best shot on my last chance when the rear riders come by. These guys were perfectly positioned and everything just seemed to fall into place.
Where does the Golden Road get its name?
It’s widely assumed that the Golden Road got its name because of the construction cost – if it cost that much then it must be made of gold! But, like much island folklore, this is disputed.
Local Harris historian, Bill Lawson says the name officially relates to the first sealed road in Harris This was built in the years after WWII as a safety measure to prevent accidents arising from people wading across rivers to get home.
Whatever the origins of its name, we think it is a stunning road to cycle. It officially starts at Meabhag nam Bhaigh and runs for ten winding miles before re-joining the main road, just before Tarbert. To get the full experience of this part of the island we cycle the 11 miles before that section from Roghadal to Geocrab. Totalling 21 miles, this is one of the best roads you can cycle anywhere in the world and a highlight of our trip. As you turn the corner at the church at Roghadal, the views open up and you are confronted with a roller coaster-like road that hugs the coastline. This drops into wild, natural harbours where otters and seals can be seen on the rocks. It then climbs up to high plateaus that resemble a rock-strewn moonscape. It is wild and unspoilt and, most importantly, virtually traffic-free.
Find out more about the Golden Road here
