Barra is about 65 miles from Oban (ie. the mainland) off the west coast of Scotland. It is linked to a smaller island, Vatersay, via a causeway. These are the most southerly inhabited islands of the Outer Hebrides.
Barra has an area of about 35 square miles. There is a circular road around the island of about 14 miles (the A888). There is a branch road from Northbay which takes you to the cockle-strand/airfield.
The beaches on Barra are magnificent. From the cottage, it is about a mile walk to Tangusdale which has a lovely beach and a hotel. Further along the west coast you will go past Allasdale beach, Seal Bay, where you can watch the seals on the rocks (they often will swim towards the shore to check you out), and past the golf course, to Greian Head, a great headland to see cormorants, shags and various gulls.
From the house, if you follow the Nask road over the hill, you can get to Vatersay via the causeway.
The centre of Barra is hilly, Heaval being the highest point at 1,260 feet.
Barra's geology consists of Lewisian gneiss (metamorphosed granite), the oldest rocks in Britain and some of the oldest in the world (some 2,800 million years old).
Barra is known as the "Garden of the Hebrides" because of the variety of wild flowers.
How to get to Barra
The ferry from Oban to Castlebay takes just under 5 hours. Costs ~£30 return per passenger. If you want to take your car, it'll cost about £140 on top of your passenger fare. Contact Caledonian MacBrayne for more details such as timetables and prices.
You can also make your way to Barra from other islands via ferries from Uist /Eriskay, or take a flight from the mainland arriving at Barra's beach airport.
Local amenities
Most of the island's shops are in or around Castlebay. In the 'main' street there's a store which sells groceries, newspapers and petrol (the fuel pumps are on the opposite side of the road). There's also a Post Office, Royal Bank of Scotland, Tourist Information, hardware shop and a wee cafe.
On the way into Castlebay from the house, you will go past the local school that has a swimming pool and a games hall. There is also a library with Internet facilities. Check locally for times when facilities are available. The main Co-op supermarket is also in this vicinity (in Horve).
Castlebay
Craigard Hotel and Castlebay Hotel serve meals.
Also, in the 'high street', there is the Kismul Cafe.
The local pubs include the Castlebay and Craigard bars.
Other than Castlebay
Away from Castlebay on the west side near Tangusdale beach is the Isle of Barra hotel. On the north east side of the island, in Northbay is the Heathbank Hotel.
Places to visit
Kismul castle - This is situated in Castlebay harbour. There are frequent boat trips out, especially in the summer. Check with the tourist board or locals.
Mingulay - This is a long boat trip. Views of the cliffs around the uninhabited island of Mingulay are incredible. Again, you need to check with the tourist office or locals.*
*Some trips (eg. quite often the Mingulay trip) operate independently of the tourist board, meaning that the tourist board might not tell you about them.
It is nice just to walk anywhere on Barra.
