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| |longitude=-7.4667 | |longitude=-7.4667 | ||
| |GridReference=NF687004 | |GridReference=NF687004 | ||
| |celtic name=Barraigh, Eilean Bharraigh | |||
| |norse name=Barr-oy | |||
| |meaning of name=Barr's island, after St Barr | |meaning of name=Barr's island, after St Barr | ||
| |area=5,875 ha | |area=5,875 ha | ||
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| |island group=]s and ] | |island group=]s and ] | ||
| |local authority=] | |local authority=] | ||
| flag | |||
| |references=<ref>2001 UK Census per ]</ref><ref>Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.</ref><ref></ref> | |references=<ref>2001 UK Census per ]</ref><ref>Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.</ref><ref></ref> | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| The Isle of '''Barra''' |
The Isle of '''Barra''' is a island, and apart from the adjacent island of ] is the southernmost inhabited island of the ] in ]. | ||
| ==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| At the 2001 census the resident population was 1,078, and mostly ]. The area of Barra is 23 square miles, the main ] being ] |
At the 2001 census the resident population was 1,078, and mostly ]. The area of Barra is 23 square miles, the main ] being ] . Barra is now linked by a man-made ] to the neighbouring island of ] . | ||
| The west of the island has white sandy ]es backed by shell-sand ] 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 west of the island has white sandy ]es backed by shell-sand ] 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. | ||
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| Places of interest on the island include a ruined church and museum at ], a number of ] ]s 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. | Places of interest on the island include a ruined church and museum at ], a number of ] ]s 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. | ||
| ==Flag== | |||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| The |
The Clan MacLeod has strong ties to the Isle of Barra and claims descent from the Vikings.<ref> | ||
| ] granted the island to the MacNeill clan in 1427. The clan held the island until 1838, when Roderick MacNeil, the 40th Chief of the Clan, sold the island to Colonel Gordon of Cluny. Gordon expelled most of the inhabitants to the ] in order to make way for sheep. Barra was restored to MacNeill ownership in 1937 when the Barra estate, which encompassed most of the island, was bought by Robert MacNeil, an American architect, and 45th chief of the clan.<ref name=undiscovered-barra>{{cite web|url=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/barra/barra/index.html|title=Barra Feature Page|Publisher=Undiscovered Scotland|accessdate=2007-11-04}}</ref> | ] granted the island to the MacNeill clan in 1427. The clan held the island until 1838, when Roderick MacNeil, the 40th Chief of the Clan, sold the island to Colonel Gordon of Cluny. Gordon expelled most of the inhabitants to the ] in order to make way for sheep. Barra was restored to MacNeill ownership in 1937 when the Barra estate, which encompassed most of the island, was bought by Robert MacNeil, an American architect, and 45th chief of the clan.<ref name=undiscovered-barra>{{cite web|url=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/barra/barra/index.html|title=Barra Feature Page|Publisher=Undiscovered Scotland|accessdate=2007-11-04}}</ref> | ||
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| ], near ], is unique in that the runway is a beach, An Tràigh Mhòr (English: ''The Big Beach''). Planes can only land and take off at low tide meaning that the timetable varies. Barra's airport is the only airport in the world to have scheduled flights landing on a beach.<ref name = "http://www.hial.co.uk/barra-airport.html"></ref> The aircraft currently in operation on Barra is the ]. The beach is also a source of ]s. | ], near ], is unique in that the runway is a beach, An Tràigh Mhòr (English: ''The Big Beach''). Planes can only land and take off at low tide meaning that the timetable varies. Barra's airport is the only airport in the world to have scheduled flights landing on a beach.<ref name = "http://www.hial.co.uk/barra-airport.html"></ref> The aircraft currently in operation on Barra is the ]. The beach is also a source of ]s. | ||
| ] is the main ferry port from which ] sail to ] on the Scottish mainland and ] |
] is the main ferry port from which ] sail to ] on the Scottish mainland and ] in ] . A vehicular ferry also travels between Ceann a' Gharaidh in ] and ] in Barra. The crossing takes around 40 minutes. | ||
| Apart from the ferries, boat trips to ] are also available during the Summer season, and a small boat can take visitors to Kisimul Castle. | Apart from the ferries, boat trips to ] are also available during the Summer season, and a small boat can take visitors to Kisimul Castle. | ||
Revision as of 18:26, 4 February 2008
This article is about the island of Barra in Scotland. For other uses of the same name, see Barra (disambiguation).| Meaning of name | Barr's island, after St Barr |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| OS grid reference | NF687004 |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Uists and Barra |
| Area | 5,875 ha |
| Area rank | 20 |
| Highest elevation | Heaval 383 m |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Na h-Eileanan Siar flag |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1,078 |
| Population rank | 13 |
| Largest settlement | Castlebay |
 | |
| References | |
The Isle of Barra is a island, and apart from the adjacent island of Vatersay is the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.
Geography
At the 2001 census the resident population was 1,078, and mostly Roman Catholic. The area of Barra is 23 square miles, the main city being Castlebay . Barra is now linked by a man-made causeway to the neighbouring island of Vatersay .
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.
Kisimul Castle at Castlebay is located on an island in the bay, so giving the village its name.
Places of interest on the island include 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.
Flag
History
The Clan MacLeod has strong ties to the Isle of Barra and claims descent from the Vikings.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).
In 2003, the ownership of the Barra Estate was passed by the owner, Ian MacNeil, to the Scottish Government. The estate will be transferred to the inhabitants in the future if they request it. MacNeil, the 46th chief of the clan had previously transferred Kismuil Castle to Historic Scotland in 2000.
In May 2007 Channel 4's Time Team came to the hamlet of Allasdale to investigate the exposed remains of Bronze Age burials and Iron Age roundhouses in sand dunes that had been previously uncovered by storms. The programme was broadcast on 20 January 2008.
Media and the Arts
Every summer, Fèis Bharraigh brings the whole island together in a cultural festival. The Barra Fest will be held on the 27th and 28th July 2007.
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 the novel Whisky Galore by Sir Compton Mackenzie, who lived near the airport and is buried at Cille Bharra .
Transport Links
Barra's tiny airport, near Northbay, is unique in that the runway is a beach, An Tràigh Mhòr (English: The Big Beach). Planes can only land and take off at low tide meaning that the timetable varies. Barra's airport is the only airport in the world to have scheduled flights landing on a beach. The aircraft currently in operation on Barra is the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter. 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 in South Uist . A vehicular ferry also travels between Ceann a' Gharaidh in Eriskay and Ardmore in Barra. The crossing takes around 40 minutes.
Apart from the ferries, boat trips to Mingulay are also available during the Summer season, and a small boat can take visitors to Kisimul Castle.
Gallery
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Castlebay, Barra
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Traigh Eais
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Sunset From Traigh Eais
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Airport Sands
- Bruernish Bruernish
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Barra Airport
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Twin Otter Taking off From Barra Airport
References
- ^ Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
- 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.
- Ordnance Survey
- Ross, John (2003-09-06). "A gift to Scotland - the isle of Barra". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2007-11-04.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "Barra, Western Isles". Time Team Website. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
- Barra Airport Website
External links
- Isle of Barra community website
- Barra Distillery
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, Barra
- Video of Plane landing on Tràigh Mhòr
| Inhabited islands of the Hebrides | ||
|---|---|---|
| Inner Hebrides |  | |
| Outer Hebrides | ||
56°59′N 7°28′W / 56.983°N 7.467°W / 56.983; -7.467
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