Harris votes to be a National Park
It could take more than two years to realise the plans after the islanders voted more than two to one in favour of the move. The community, which spent a decade agonising over whether Europe's largest coastal superquarry would herald a new economic dawn, now sees hope in conservation.
The islanders voted for a park with "call-in powers" similar to the Cairngorms Park which leaves most of the planning function to the local authority, only calling in those planning applications which would affect the park. The full planning powers enjoyed by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Park were not considered appropriate.
The population has been declining since 1921 and now stands at just 1800. Some 35% are aged 60 or over, primary school rolls have fallen from 179 in 1998 to 117 in 2007 and the secondary school's roll from 141 to 109.
Scotland's Clans and Tartans