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Outer Hebrides : Barra

 Traigh Mhor airfield, Barra Vatersay Bay

The island of Barra [Eilean Bharraigh] is about 8 miles long by 5 miles wide and contains an extensive range of scenery from craggy hills to the broad grassy machair and beautiful white beaches. It has a mainly catholic population of about 1400 and can be accessed by ferry from Oban on the mainland or Lochboisdale on South Uist. Flights from Glasgow and Stornoway are also available which land on the sands of Traigh Mhor at low tide. Listed below are some of the places you can't afford to miss if you visit this island.
BARRA

Contents of this Page

Vatersay
Traigh Mhor
West Coast
Historical Sites

Related Pages on this Site

Barra Photos
Barra Diary
Hebrides Links

Castlebay

Castlebay [Bagh A Chaisteil] is the main settlement on Barra. It is situated on the edge of a large natural sheltered harbour and is likely to be the place you first arrive at on the ferry from Oban or Lochboisdale. The town itself is nothing spectacular, but does have a shop, bank, hotel and tourist information centre. The centre of the bay is home to Kisimul Castle which stands guard over Castlebay from its small rocky island.

Vatersay

The island of Vatersay [Bhatarsaigh] is joined to Barra by a man made causeway. It is well worth the trip across this causeway, is only to visit the beautiful beaches nestling between the two hills of Vatersay. The west facing beach is pounded by the Atlantic swells and can offer good surfing conditions. The east facing beach in Vatersay Bay is much more sheltered and may provide good flat water windsurfing conditions. It is also a beautiful place to sit and watch the world slowly go by. The short climb up the southern hill of Vatersay is well worth the effort for the view across to the smaller islands of Sandray, Pabbay, Migulay and Berneray.
Vatersay Bay

Anna on the beautiful white sands of Vatersay Bay.

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Traigh Mhor

It's worth spending some time exploring the northern peninsula of Barra. The magnificent shell beach of Traigh Mhor, which is also home to the islands airstrip is an ideal flat water windsurfing location. (Take note of the restrictions though due to the aircraft!) Traigh Eais on the west of this peninsula should catch some swell and provide some nice beach break surfing conditions.
The airstrip at Traigh Mhor

The airstrip on the white shell sands of Traigh Mhor, Barra.

West Coast

The beaches along the west coast of Barra are also worth exploring. All can hold some surf in the right conditions and are easily accessible from the main road that circumnavigates Barra.

Historical Sites

The following is a list of historical sites on Barra that you may wish to visit.
Borve Standing Stones
Stones associated with Viking Burials off the A888 2 miles north of Castlebay
Dun Bharpa Chambered Cairn
A well preserved neolithic cairn at the end of the track off the A888 about 0.5 miles north of Borve
Dun Cuier
A dun which was occupied until the 7th Century, 3 miles north of Castlebay at Allasdale
Castle Sinclair
The ruins of Castle Sinclair in Loch Sinclair, 1.5 miles NW of Castlebay
Kissimul Castle
The castle of Castlebay. Visits to the castle from the town of Castlebay are available during the summer months, and by arrangement at other times

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