Places to see in ( Isle of Barra - UK )
Places to see in ( Isle of Barra - UK )
Barra is an island in the Outer Hebrides,Scotland, and the second southernmost inhabited island there, after the adjacent island of Vatersay to which it is connected by a short causeway. In 2011, the population was 1,174. The area of Barra is roughly 60 square kilometres (23 sq mi), 11 miles long and 6 miles wide. The main village is Castlebay (Bàgh a' Chaisteil). A single track road runs around the coast of the island where the flattest land and houses are, the interior of the island is hilly and uninhabited.
The west of the island has white sandy beaches backed by shell-sand, machair and the east has numerous rocky inlets. Kisimul Castle at Castlebay is on a rock in the bay, giving the village its name. A smaller medieval tower house, Dun Mhic Leoid, can be found in the middle of Loch St Clare on the west side of the island at Tangasdale. The highest elevation on the island is Heaval, halfway up which is a prominent white marble statue of the Madonna and Child, called Our Lady of the Sea, which was erected during the Marian year of 1954. The predominant faith on the island is Catholicism and the Catholic church dedicated to Our Lady of the Sea is immediately apparent to all who arrive at Castlebay.
Other places of interest on the island include a ruined church and museum at Cille Bharra, a number of Iron Age brochs such as those at Dùn Chuidhir and An Dùn Bàn, and a range of other Iron Age and later structures which have recently been excavated and recorded. Barra is connected by a causeway to the smaller island of Vatersay, population 90.
Barra's tiny airport, near Northbay, uses the beach called An Tràigh Mhòr (The Great Beach) as a runway. Planes can land and take off only at low tide, so the timetable varies. Voted the world's most stunning landing spot, Barra's airport is claimed to be the only airport in the world to have scheduled flights landing on a beach.
Ferries to Oban, Lochboisdale, Tiree and Eriskay are run by Caledonian MacBrayne. Castlebay is the main port from which ferries sail to Oban on the Scottish mainland, Tiree and Lochboisdale (Loch Baghasdail) in South Uist. The mainland crossing takes about 5 hours. A vehicular ferry travels between Ardmore (An Àird Mhòr) and Ceann a' Gharaidh in Eriskay (Èirisgeigh). The crossing takes around 40 minutes.
The fish factory, Barratlantic, in Northbay is a major contributor to the island's economy and the Hebridean Toffee Factory in Castlebay is one of the few manufacturers on Barra. Tourism provides the main income for the majority of islanders; the high season lasts from May to September. Thousands of people visit the island every year, the busiest times being during Fèis Bharraigh & BarraFest in July. The Dualchas Heritage and Cultural Centre is located in Castlebay, next to Castlebay Community School. It has various exhibitions each year, and is open throughout the year.
( Isle of Barra - UK ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Isle of Barra . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Isle of Barra - UK
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Old Photographs Island Of Barra Outer Hebrides Scotland
Tour Scotland wee video of photographs the Island Of Barra. This is the second southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides. Alexander, Lord of the Isles granted the island to the MacNeil clan in 1427. The clan held the island until 1838, when Roderick MacNeil, the 40th Chief of the Clan, sold the island to Colonel Gordon of Cluny. Gordon expelled most of the inhabitants in order to make way for sheep farming. The displaced islanders variously went to the Scottish mainland, Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America and Canada. Barra was restored to MacNeil ownership in 1937 when the Barra estate, which encompassed most of the island, was bought by Robert MacNeil, a U.S. architect, and 45th chief of the clan.
Island of Barra
GSA on airport beach landing strip
Driving the Isle's of Barra and Vatersay, Outer Hebrides
Isle of Barra
I sailed to Barra on the ferry from Oban, and as you approach on the ferry the first sight you’ll see is Kisimul Castle in Castlebay. Perched atop the rocky Bagh a Chaisteil islet, the historic seat of Chief of the Clan MacNeil, this is the last remaining complete castle in the Outer Hebrides. Open to the public, the castle was restored in the 1930s and also serves as a site of pilgrimage for descendents of Barra emigrants, including those who shipped out to Canada from the village of Boldnabodach during the clearances of 1848.
Barra has many notable beaches which are often completely empty as can be seen in this Film. The list of beaches is too long to list but if you purchase a map of the island you van plainly see that Barra has an abundance of them.
With the islands enjoying one of the last untouched natural landscapes in Europe, wildlife in the Western Isles is some of the finest in the world, with Outer Hebrides animals and plants all at home in their surrounding without fear of poaching, pollution or disturbance.
Wildlife watching in the Outer Hebrides offers a glimpse into a time almost forgotten by the rest of the world, where the white-tailed eagle soars over the rugged coastline as red deer roam proudly over the peaty moorlands and otters swim in the many sea loch.
Much of the wildlife on the isle of Barra is unique and protected, meaning that visitors to the Island of Barra can enjoy pursuits as diverse as spotting minke whale around the island and eagle watching.
This Island is a popular destination for birdwatching in Scotland, as birding in the Western Isles offers opportunities to see everything from birds of prey to seabirds and waders. Look out for the Bird of Prey Trail which spans the Outer Hebrides with location markers for the best places to see birds of prey. As well as this, the Western Isles are the summer home to two thirds of the elusive British corncrake population from April to September.
#barra #outerhebrides #isleofbarra
Daytrip to the Island of Barra - December 2016
Short video of our day trip to the Island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The outbound flight was delayed, so unfortunately we did not have time to visit Castlebay, the main town on the Island. We only had time to have lunch in the airport before our return flight to Glasgow. There are only 2 flights per day.
Hebridean Adventure Day 2 | Island of Barra | Outer Hebrides
Welcome to Day 2 of the Hebridean Adventure!
Join us on our 12 day series travelling from Oban up through the Outer Hebrides, taking in Barra, Eriskay, Uists, Isle of Harris & Isle of Lewis. On day 2, We enjoyed a watching epic waves and driving round the 14 mile ring road of the Island of Barra
Getting to see a plane coming in to land on the beach runway on the Isle of Barra was quite something, especially in the wind!
If you enjoy the video, make sure to click Subscribe and ding the little bell to be notified when the next video goes live (tomorrow.) You can join us as we are exploring Scottish Islands on this Scottish Island Hopping Roadtrip
Make sure to click like and leave a comment below and let us know what you liked and we hope to see you tomorrow!
In A Bit!
If you are new to the channel, It is currently a landscape photography channel but depending on how well this road trip series goes down, We may make it more about adventure.... oh don't worry, there will still be landscape photography.
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Full cockpit view of beach landing into Barra Scotland
Enjoy one of the most spectacular beachside landing in the world
Barra Airport
The only scheduled air service that has to take account of the tide, because the planes land on the beach!
When the film begins the plane is a tiny silver dot at top right, but it gradually grows bigger until the plane lands in a cloud of salt spray and broken shell on the beach.
I love the way the workers rush to erect movable barriers to guide passengers to the terminal, which is the only building right in front of them. They would have to be mad to duck under the plane and start swimming - but I guess tourists can get up to any mad thing!
Once safely in the terminal, you then collect your luggage from the world's smallest baggage reclaim!
Cycling round the Isle of Barra (Outer Hebrides)
Isle of Barra and its scenic single-track roads (4K) SCOTLAND 2019
Beautiful landscape and views & pleasure of driving on the road A888 of Barra, Outer Hebrides.
Barra Airport, Isle of Barra, Scotland
A Birtish Airways scheduled flight lands and takes off from the beach at Barra Airport, Isle of Barra, Outer Hebrides, Scotland in 2007. A unique airport that uses a beach for its runways.
The Isles of Barra & Vatersay, Outer Hebrides -Scotland
This lovely island with castle and a beach landing strip, the only scheduled flight to land on a beach in the world. It is a must for visitors.
Scotland: The Western Islands - Episode 4 - Lewis to Barra
Scotland: The Western Islands is a factual travel documentary series which aims to reveal the lesser known sights and history of just some of the many settlements and islands which exist in this unique part of the world.
In the final episode, Alex and the team explore the Outer Hebrides, travelling south through these unique isles, from Lewis in the north, through to Harris and the Uist’s, before reaching the Isle of Barra.
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Barra Beach Landing
A bucket list flight for me - from Liverpool in the Cessna 182, over the Cumbrian Fells, across the Isle of Arran, Jura, Coll and then the sea to land on the world famous beach airport on Barra, ranked amongst the most scenic airports in the world!
#stuwithaview
Grand Tours Of The Scottish Islands S02 E02
Far From The Madding Crowd presented by Paul Murton
Glasgow to Barra Day Trip
Beach landing and exploring Barra, Not the best weather unfortunately!
Barra Airport - where the runway is a beach!
More from Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands -
Barra Day Trip ( Loganair from Glasgow)
A fantastic day trip flying from Glasgow Airport to the beautiful island of Barra. Flew with Loganair departing at 1015 and returning the same day at 1435. Had about 2.5 hours to explore the beaches and get a cup of coffee and a sandwich. Flight takes about an hour and lands on the beach.
Music: Sad Music - AShamaluevMusic.
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Landing on the beach at Barra, Scotland with Loganair
If you are a bit of an aviation geek, the Loganair flight from Glasgow to Barra is probably on your bucket list as the runway on Barra is a beach!!!
The video is a bit longer than our usual ones, but it's definitely worth watching in full - if you like small planes and unique airports.
A written review with pictures is
here:
and here:
#barra #bucketlisttrip #beachlanding