THE 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.

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