Walks on the Isle of Barra

Can I walk around Barra?

Barra is not a big island.  You can walk around Barra on the main road in a day.  The route is approximately 14 miles long. 

But if you want to venture off there are plenty of opportunities for you to find your own special place, whether staring out at the Atlantic, sitting amongst the flowers on the machair or perched at the top of Heaval, the island’s tallest hill (pictured above, 383m – easily doable for most people although can be steep in places).

If you are staying in No 1 Ardveenish you can easily walk round to Eoligarry passing the Traigh Mhor beach, which also doubles as the airport, and over the dunes to the spectacular beach at Traigh Eais. 

You can then head back to the road and towards the ancient Cille Bharra (pictured) chapel which sits in Eoligarry graveyard.  Its residents include Compton MacKenzie, author of Whisky Galore.  After all that, you can head to the Northbay and a drink and meal at the Heathbank hotel before walking back home to sit and snooze in front of the fire.

If you are in the south of the island, a walk from Castlebay to Vatersay – now the most Southerly inhabited island in the Outer Hebrides - will stretch the legs and deliver fantastic rewards. 

Head across the causeway towards Vatersay beach and then up the hill to the monument that commemorates the loss of the emigrant ship Annie Jane which foundered on rocks in 1853 with the loss of more than 350 lives. Finish off with soup, sandwich and cake in the Vatersay Hall café where you will also find toilets and showers.