As Spring gathers pace, so too does our island storytelling as we set out to deepen your connection to the Isle of Harris even further
Starting next week, the 'From The Sea' story gets underway as we share more of our ocean-going history and culture, and get under the skin of our island’s long relationship with its surrounding waters.
We'll be celebrating the joys of Outer Hebridean seafood and seaweed, and meeting the characters from our community who live and work above and below the waves.
Over the coming months we’ll be working with our Sugar Kelp diver and seaweed expert Lewis Mackenzie to learn more about his daily life in the sea-lochs of our eastern coastline.
The science of our favourite Outer Hebridean seaweed is fascinating, and there are many other incredible species to explore, from pepper dulse to sea spaghetti.
The underwater forests he carefully harvests are also home to a variety of wonderful wildlife, and the interconnected ecosytems help all sorts of creatures great and small to thrive.
We have some wonderful recipes to share with you, created by some of our favourite local cooks and chefs, and kept fresh and simple enough to enjoy without fuss or fanfare at home.
You’ll also be introduced to some of the Harris fishermen who bring this splendid bounty of the sea ashore according to the season.
With the help of people like Donald Maclennan of Sound of Harris Shellfish and Angus Campbell of Kilda Cruises we’ll learn about the secret lives of lobsters, langoustines, and more.
Finally, there will be some sensory fun to be had as we bring the sights and sounds of the sea to your home, no matter how far away you are from our Harris shores.
New photography and short film by Laurence Winram promises to connect you to the spirit our island, and we’ll be experimenting with our first forays into field recordings too.
So, join us as the sea provides and the story gets underway. And rest assured, Isle of Harris Gin will be to the fore throughout, a real maritime message in a bottle from us to you.