Barra

Castlebay, Barra

Traigh Eaig beach

This article is about the island of Barra in Scotland. For other places of the same name, see Barra (disambiguation).

Barra or Eilean Bharraigh (in Gaelic) is a mostly Roman Catholic and predominantly Gaelic-speaking island, and apart from the adjacent island of Vatersay is the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan Siar) in Scotland. At the 2001 census the resident population was 1,078. The Clan MacNeil has strong ties to the Isle of Barra and can trace its lineage back to the O'Neills of Ulster who came to Barra from Ireland around the year 1000.

Barra's main village is Castlebay (Bàgh a' Chaisteil). The village is home to Kisimul Castle, hereditary seat of the MacNeils, and the Dualchas Heritage and Cultural Centre. Kisimul Castle is on an island in the bay (giving the village its name).

Other places of interest on the island include the Black House Museum, 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 whole range of other Iron Age and later structures which have recently been excavated and recorded.

Barra is now linked by a man-made causeway to the neighbouring island of Vatersay (Eilean Bhatarsaigh).

The west of the island has white sandy beaches backed by shell-sand machair and the east has numerous rocky inlets.

Barra is abundant with stunning scenery, rare flowers and wildlife, which can be appreciated by coastal or hill walks, drives or cycle rides along the various small roads. Car and bicycle hire are available locally.

Every summer, Fèis Bharraigh brings the whole island together in a cultural festival.

The 1949 Ealing Studios comedy Whisky Galore! was filmed on Barra. The film is based on a novel of the same name by Sir Compton Mackenzie, who lived near the airport.

The Irish poet Pat Ingoldsby only distributes his books from 3 shops internationally, one of which is located here.

Getting to and from Barra

Barra Airport

Barra's tiny airport, near Northbay, is unique in Britain in that the runway is a beach, Cockle Strand (An Tràigh Mhòr). Planes can only land and take off at low tide meaning that the timetable varies. The beach is also a source of cockles.

Castlebay (Bàgh a' Chaisteil) is the main ferry port from which ferries sail to Oban on the Scottish mainland and Lochboisdale (Loch Baghasdail) in South Uist (Uibhist a Deas). A vehicular ferry also travels between Ceann a' Gharaidh in Eriskay (Èirisgeigh) and Ardmore (An Àird Mhòr) in Barra. The crossing takes around 40 minutes.

Apart from the ferries, boat trips to Mingulay and Eriskay are also available during the season, and a small boat can take the visitor to Kisimul Castle.

External links

[Isle of Barra community website]

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