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The 'runway' at Barra airport

Castlebay

Barra [1] is an island in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The island has a population of 1078, and is connected by causeway to Vatersay in the south and by ferry to Eriskay (and hence South Uist) in the north. The airport is one of only two in the world where scheduled flights land on a beach runway. The main settlement is Castlebay.

[edit] Understand

Barra is a predominately Catholic island, so there are fewer restrictions on Sunday activities (shops etc) than the islands further North. There are also some wayside shrines which is unusual in Scotland.

The Tourist Information Office [2] is in Main Street, Castlebay (01871 810336) and open from Easter to October only (usually opens for evening ferry arrivals). Coming off the ferry, take the right fork in the road and head up past the shops.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By boat

Caledonian MacBrayne - Citylink coaches and trains connect with the ferries in Oban. Details as at Summer 2006:

• Oban - daily, taking 5+ hours; this ferry lands at Castlebay.

• Eriskay - daily, up to 5 per day, taking 40 minutes; this ferry lands at the north end of the island, and there are often (but not always) connecting buses to Castlebay.

[edit] By air

Barra Airport uses the beach as the runway, which means that flight times vary with the tide. Flights from Glasgow and Benbecula on most days (weather permitting) are operated by Loganair as a franchise of FlyeBe.

[edit] By causeway

Barra is linked by causeway to Vatersay to the South.

[edit] By bus and ferry

As part of the Western Isles Overland Route combination of bus and ferry, you can travel in under a day from Stornoway on Lewis.

[edit] Get around

Castlebay village can easily be explored on foot.

[edit] By bus

There are good bus services during the day Mon-Sat, but little in the evening and no buses on Sundays. Western Isles bus timetables

[edit][add listing] See

• Kisimul Castle, Castlebay [3] - take the five minute boat trip out to this castle.

• Isle of Barra Heritage Centre - a small exhibition and café in the school.

• The airport - worth stopping by to watch a plane land on the sand.

• The church - quite interesting, and gives good views of the bay.

• Tangisdale Beach

[edit] Itineraries

• Cycle or drive around the island.

[edit][add listing] Do

• On a calm day, take a boat trip (enquire locally) to one of the uninhabited islands to the south.

• Play golf.

• Sea canoeing [4].

• Visit Vatersay.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Co-op at Castlebay is open Mon-Sat 08:30-18:00, Sun 12:30-18:00. Co-op with the highest sales per square foot in the UK, but that's because there are only 2 aisles.

• Grocer on Main Street, Castlebay, sells newspapers.

• Hardware store in Castlebay.

[edit][add listing] Eat

The meals in the hotels in Castlebay can be good, especially the fresh local fish and shellfish.

• Café in Main Street, Castlebay.

• Castlebay Hotel.

• Craigard Hotel.

• Dualchas Café in the Heritage Centre, Castlebay (daytime only).

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Castlebay Hotel. Often has live music late on Saturday Nights.

• Craigard Hotel.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Booking ahead is recommended as the island can get fully booked at popular times.

[edit] Hostels

• Dunard Hostel (Castlebay) 01871 810443 [5] is a 16 bed hostel which caters for families aswell as individuals. Book well in advance to stay in summer. A few minutes walk from the ferry.

[edit] Bed & breakfast

Some can be found on the tourist board website [6], but many are no longer listed due to the charges and "hassle".

• Tigh-Na-Mara Guest House (Castlebay) 01871 810304

[edit] Self catering

Renting a house for a week or more is a popular option. Such places are generally let from Saturday to Saturday. Some of these can be found on the tourist board website [7].

[edit] Hotels

• Castlebay Hotel - 01871 810223 [8] is a few minutes walk from the ferry. Website also has general info on the island.

• Craigard Hotel (Castlebay) 01871 810200 [9] is a few minutes walk from the ferry.

• Isle of Barra Hotel - Tangasdale Beach, 01871 810383 [10] is in a nice location next the beach, about 5 miles from Castlebay.

[edit] Get out

Head north to the islands to Eriskay, South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, Harris, Lewis, maybe taking the ferry or flight back to the mainland from Stornoway.