Barra
Barra or Eilean Bharraigh (in Scottish 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.
Geography and History
At the 2001 census the resident population was 1,078. The area of Barra is 35 square miles, the main village being Castlebay (Bàgh a' Chaisteil). 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.
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. Kisimul Castle at Castlebay is the hereditary seat of the MacNeils. It is located on an island in the bay, so giving the village its name. Other places of interest on the island include a 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.
Media and the Arts
Every summer, Fèis Bharraigh brings the whole island together in a cultural festival.
The Dualchas Heritage and Cultural Centre is located in Castlebay.
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 Channel 5 program Extraordinary People: The Boy Who Lived Before, featured a young boy named Cameron, who lived in Glasgow and claims to have memories of a past life on the island.[1]
Transport Links
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. As the name implies, the beach is also a source of cockles.
Castlebay 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 visitors to Kisimul Castle.
Gallery
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Castlebay, Barra -
Traigh Eaig Beach -
Sunset From Traigh Eaig Beach -
Barra Airport -
Airport Sands
External links
Inhabited islands of the Hebrides | ||
|---|---|---|
| Inner Hebrides |  | |
| Outer Hebrides | ||