Issues to do on Barra within the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.
Barradise and Barrabados are two nicknames this bonnie wee island has earned. Although Barra could also be wee, it’s an island stuffed with adventures available, seafood to be sampled, and cares to be forgotten.
We spent 5 great days on Barra, experiencing each sunny cloudless skies and sideways rain- so we have now you lined on the very best issues to do on Barra whether or not the sky is leaking or the solar is shining!
I’ve additionally requested locals what are their favorite issues to do on Barra.
Planning a visit to Barra?
I’ve additionally written a useful information on planning a visit to the Isle of Barra, so give {that a} learn if you need extra recommendation about travelling the island! There’s a ton of useful recommendation, together with info on opening hours, lodging, getting round, and common suggestions.
Issues to do on Barra
Do the Barra Seaside Touchdown
The most effective methods to reach on Barra is by flying- and touchdown on the world’s solely official seaside airport!
Scheduled flights have been arriving at Tràigh Mhòr seaside within the north of Barra since 1936. Loganair operates two flights from Glasgow per day, and touchdown instances are decided by the tides.
That is how we arrived on Barra, and surprisingly, the touchdown in was one of many smoothest I’ve skilled. Count on a crowd- locals and guests to the island will typically crowd on the airport cafe to observe the wee Twin Otter airplane land on the seaside.
Value: We paid £340 for return flights from Glasgow for 2 adults (infants fly free).
Native suggestion: Traigh Eais seaside
”Traigh Eais seaside within the north of Barra is my favorite seaside on the island. The sunshine adjustments on a regular basis in Barra, so it’s stunning for photographers,” – Joan, Isle of Barra Seaside Lodge
Traigh Eais seaside is positioned on the…
Bùth Bharraigh
A go to to Bùth Bharraigh needs to be certainly one of your first stops on the island. It’s the customer info centre that additionally doubles as a store and free Wi-fi area, promoting recent produce and quite a lot of regionally made knitwear, jewelry, artwork and extra!
In addition they have a wonderful vary of books, that includes many titles concerning the Outer Hebrides and the remainder of Scotland.
This store is the beating coronary heart of Barra, and is a superb supply of data that can enable you benefit from your time on the island.
Isle of Barra Distillers
Do you know that Barra has it’s personal gin distillery? Isle of Barra Distillers is a family-run gin distillery positioned in Castlebay.
Made with chosen botanicals from the land and carrageen seaweed collected from the ocean, their Barra Atlantic Gin is, fairly actually, Barra in a bottle.
Their important product is Barra Atlantic Gin, however in addition they promote a spread of gin liqueurs, together with Rhubarb and Heather, and Strawberry and Ginger. In addition they have an island darkish rum, and hearsay has it they are going to launch a whisky quickly!
Their store is effectively value visiting so you’ll be able to take residence a bottle (or extra) for your self.
Kisimul Fort
Kisimul Fort sits on a wee isle in Castlebay harbour. Residence to the MacNeils of Barra, the fort was leased to Historic Scotland by the present clan chief for an annual charge of £1 and a bottle of whisky! His dram of selection? Talisker, apparently.
Kisimul Fort was most definitely constructed over the stays of an historical broch, someday within the fifteenth century. In the present day, it’s the solely medieval fort within the Western Isles.
Disappointingly, the fort is closed for conservation work, which is a disgrace because it’s such a wee gem within the Outer Hebrides. You’ll be able to nonetheless guide a free boat tour to get nearer to the castle- guide on the Castlebay Marina or on the Bùth Bharraigh customer centre.
The smallest room within the fort is flushed twice by the tide. When the tide rolls within the fort seems to drift!
Castlebay and Ledaig Shore Stroll
Time: 1 hour
Distance: 3km / 1.7 miles
A simple stroll that offers you beautiful views of Kisimul Fort and the encompassing Castlebay is the stroll to Ledaig. The stroll is totally on roads and strolling paths, starting within the centre of Castlebay.
As you get nearer to Ledaig you’ll have a pictureske views wanting again in direction of Castlebay. When you’re fortunate you’ll spot seals lazing on the rocks!
Comply with the WalkHighlands guide for detailed info.
Native suggestion: Climb Heavel
”I take pleasure in strolling up Haeval- the very best level on Barra once I want some solitude,” – Grant Smith, Director and Upkeep Man at Castlebay Lodge
Heavel is the very best peak on Barra and supplies a dramatic backdrop to Castlebay.
The WalkHighlands guide is an effective one to comply with.
Cielle Bharra
Cielle Bharra is an atmospheric historical burial floor and residential to the church of St Barr.
Compton MacKenzie, the writer of Whisky Galore, is buried right here. The writer lived on the island together with his mistress (!) whereas his unsuspecting spouse lived on the mainland.
Tangasdale Seaside
One in all my favorite days we spent on Barra was a morning at Tangasdale Seaside. With its vast sweep of white sand stretching out to azure waters- this seaside is really one of the stunning we encountered on Barra.
We had all the seaside to ourselves all morning. It’s a reminiscence I’ll at all times treasure- the three of us taking part in within the sand below a cloudless sky.
The Isle of Barra Seaside Lodge overlooks this bonnie seaside, and so they open to guests for tea, espresso and cake from 12.30 pm-3.30 pm.
See the flowering machair
When visiting any of the seashores on Barra in late spring and summer time, you’ll want to look out for the wildflowers in bloom on the machair.
Machair is Gaelic for ‘fertile plain’ and is without doubt one of the rarest environments in Europe. This distinctive grassland fringes most of the seashores within the Outer Hebrides. It’s made up of sand and shell fragments dispositioned by the wind, and is a crucial habitat for a lot of invertebrates and birds.
It’s necessary you don’t drive or park on the machair.
Brevig Standing Stone
The Brevig standing stone is a Neolithic standing stone positioned on the east aspect of the island.
The standing stone is a whopping 3 metres tall, and is the biggest surviving standing stone on Barra. It’s certainly one of three- the second standing stone is 2.5 metres in top however is damaged in half, and the third stone lies 15 metres down the hill.
To succeed in the Brevig standing stone, it’s a 300 metre stroll uphill.
Take a day journey to Vatersay
Everybody planning a visit to Barra ought to go to Vatersay, an island related by a brief causeway to the south of Barra.
My suggestion is to stroll the Vatersay seashores circuit, which is able to take you to most of the island’s important sights. Highlights on Vatersay embody the sumptuous white sandy seashores, the Piece of Cake Honesty Field, and a dun (website of an historical fort) that gives spectacular views throughout the island.
I’ve written a information on issues to do on Vatersay, so be sure to test that out when planning your day journey.
Go on a ship journey to Mingulay
A novel journey you’ll be able to expertise whereas visiting Barra is taking a ship journey to Mingulay, a shocking uninhabited island within the southern chain of the Outer Hebrides.
Each Hebridean Sea Tours and Mingulay Boat Journeys provide boat journeys to the island from Barra.
Mingulay was beforehand inhabited, however a illness worn out many of the inhabitants over 100 years in the past. The remaining islanders deserted the island, and at the moment you’ll be able to nonetheless see what’s left of the village. If climate permits, you’ll be able to land on the seaside, a very gorgeous vast strip of white sand.
In the present day Mingulay is residence to towering cliffs and all kinds of seabirds, together with fulmars, guillemots, kittiwakes, oystercatchers, and puffins!
What’s your favorite factor to do on Barra?
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