The Wildlife Map of the Hebrides

22. Luskentyre and Seilebost

Luskentyre Banks are probably the highest sandhills in the Western Isles. Please do not clamber on the steep slopes as this will cause erosion. The sand flats are rich in molluscs and worms, so it is a favourite feeding area for waders and wildfowl. The sound of Taransay is probably the best place in Harris to see seaducks such as Eider, long tailed duck, red breasted merganser and scoters. The northern part of the Seilebost peninsula changes shape with the winter gales and the extreme tip has very soft sand. Vehicles should not be taken beyond the school. The southern part of the spit is fairly stable and it encloses a large area of the saltmarsh, part of which is used as a football pitch. The saltmarsh vegetation is noted for its high percentage of 'turf fucoids'- seaweeds so small that they resemble mosses. Loch Carran, at the head of the inlet, is an excellent site for dragonflies.