• Tigh Dearg Hotel
    Accommodation

    Hotels, self catering, bed and breakfasts and camping for motorhomes and tents.

  • Ardmaree Stores and Lobster Pot Tearoom
    Eating Out

    Barra has restaurants in hotels as well as the famous Kismul Cafe opposite the castle

  • Attractions

    View a range of attractions, including historic sites, beaches, Vatersay and the swimming pool..

Welcome to the Isle of Barra

The Isle of Barra is one of the most attractive islands in Britain and recently came first in a ‘Most Beautiful Island’ competition. Its tranquillity, distinctive culture and fascinating history make any visit to Barra a memorable one. It is also an ideal starting point for visiting and exploring the Uists and Benbecula.

The island is only 8 miles long and 4 miles wide, has beautiful white sand beaches and seven lochs which provide great fishing for brown and sea trout. The population is approximately 1300, many of whom still have the Gaelic.

Castlebay was once a 19th century fishing port and today is the main town on the Isle of Barra. There are a couple of hotels, church, post office, school, grocers, supermarket, bank, swimming pool and petrol station.


Click below for information about:

Isle of Lewis
Isle of Harris
Isle of North Uist
Isle of South Uist
Isle of  Benbecula

Latest News

Isle of Barra and Vatersay

Explore the Outer Hebrides is part of Explore Scotland and has recently been upgrading its websites.  This Barra and Vatersay website is the final one to be completed in the Uist set of sites.  Lewis and Harris are already finished.

Events this month

  • Events this month

    • Events on June 11, 2013
      Guided walk Exploring the Ardvourlie Woodland
      Starts: 1:00 pm
      Ends: June 11, 2013 - 3:30 pm
      Location: Car Park by the Scaladale Centre (NB 187 105)
      Description: 1-3pm
      Meet: Car Park by the Scaladale Centre (NB 187 105)
      Distance: 2 miles Level: Grade A
      A short guided walk around the developing native
      woodland at Ardvourlie. Learn all about woodland on
      the Western Isles past, present and future, and brush
      up on your tree ID!
    • Events on June 13, 2013
      Guided walk
      Starts: 11:00 am
      Ends: June 13, 2013 - 3:30 pm
      Location: Hushinish car park (NA 992 120),
      Description: 11am – 3pm
      Hushinish to Loch na Cleavaig
      Meet: Hushinish car park (NA 992 120),
      Distance: 5 miles Level: Grade B
    • Events on June 15, 2013
      Island Book Trust
      Starts: 12:00 am
      Ends: June 16, 2013 - 12:00 am
      Location: Castlebay, Barra
      Description: Boat trip to BARRA HEAD (BERNERAY) from Castlebay, Barra, depart 10am
    • Events on June 18, 2013
      Guided Walk
      Starts: 10:30 am
      Ends: June 18, 2013 - 3:00 pm
      Location: Start of track on right just to the east of Amhuinnsuidhe Castle (NB 052 077),
      Description: 10.30am – 3pm
      Sron Uladail
      Meet: Start of track on right just to the east of
      Amhuinnsuidhe Castle (NB 052 077),
      Distance: 6 miles Level: Grade B
    • Events on June 20, 2013
      Guided Walk Rhenigidale to Loch Trolamaraig
      Starts: 12:00 am
      Ends: June 21, 2013 - 12:00 am
      Location: Rhenigidale (NB 223 016),
      Description: Thurs 20th June 1-4pm
      Rhenigidale to Loch Trolamaraig
      Meet: Rhenigidale (NB 223 016),
      Distance: 3 miles Level: Grade B
    • Events on June 20, 2013
      Island Book Trust
      Starts: 12:00 am
      Ends: June 23, 2013 - 12:00 am
      Location: Orinsay Hall
      Description: 3-DAY EVENT – ‘Slighe Chaluim Chille – Links Between Western Ireland and the Western Isles’ – Orinsay Hall from midday Thursday 20th – to midday Saturday 22nd June – (details to be announced later)
    • Events on June 22, 2013
      Guided Walk
      Starts: 2:00 pm
      Ends: June 22, 2013 - 4:00 pm
      Location: Hushinish car park (NA 992 120),
      Description: 2-4pm
      Hushinish Machair Flowers – Curracag Event
      Meet: Hushinish car park (NA 992 120),
      Distance: 2 miles
      Level: Grade A
      The Outer Hebrides are home to the fi nest machair
      in the world. This is a chance to take a short walk
      around Hushinish, and learn about the beautiful
      plants of this special habitat. This walk is part of the
      Curracag (Outer Hebrides Natural History Society)
      programme of spring events, and there is a charge
      of £4 for non members/£2 for members For more
      details and the full Curracag programme visit
      http://www.curracag.org.uk
    • Events on June 29, 2013
      Barrathon
      Starts: 12:00 am
      Ends: June 30, 2013 - 12:00 am
      Location: Castlebay Isle of Barra
      Description: Registration for the Barrathon 2013 opened at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 22nd January at the SiEntiries website.
      All places were snapped up in just 6 minutes!
      Registration for the Fun Runs and tickets for the ceilidh will be available on this website in February.

  • Events this month

    • Events on June 11, 2013
      Guided walk Exploring the Ardvourlie Woodland
      Starts: 1:00 pm
      Ends: June 11, 2013 - 3:30 pm
      Location: Car Park by the Scaladale Centre (NB 187 105)
      Description: 1-3pm
      Meet: Car Park by the Scaladale Centre (NB 187 105)
      Distance: 2 miles Level: Grade A
      A short guided walk around the developing native
      woodland at Ardvourlie. Learn all about woodland on
      the Western Isles past, present and future, and brush
      up on your tree ID!
    • Events on June 13, 2013
      Guided walk
      Starts: 11:00 am
      Ends: June 13, 2013 - 3:30 pm
      Location: Hushinish car park (NA 992 120),
      Description: 11am – 3pm
      Hushinish to Loch na Cleavaig
      Meet: Hushinish car park (NA 992 120),
      Distance: 5 miles Level: Grade B
    • Events on June 15, 2013
      Island Book Trust
      Starts: 12:00 am
      Ends: June 16, 2013 - 12:00 am
      Location: Castlebay, Barra
      Description: Boat trip to BARRA HEAD (BERNERAY) from Castlebay, Barra, depart 10am
    • Events on June 18, 2013
      Guided Walk
      Starts: 10:30 am
      Ends: June 18, 2013 - 3:00 pm
      Location: Start of track on right just to the east of Amhuinnsuidhe Castle (NB 052 077),
      Description: 10.30am – 3pm
      Sron Uladail
      Meet: Start of track on right just to the east of
      Amhuinnsuidhe Castle (NB 052 077),
      Distance: 6 miles Level: Grade B
    • Events on June 20, 2013
      Guided Walk Rhenigidale to Loch Trolamaraig
      Starts: 12:00 am
      Ends: June 21, 2013 - 12:00 am
      Location: Rhenigidale (NB 223 016),
      Description: Thurs 20th June 1-4pm
      Rhenigidale to Loch Trolamaraig
      Meet: Rhenigidale (NB 223 016),
      Distance: 3 miles Level: Grade B
    • Events on June 20, 2013
      Island Book Trust
      Starts: 12:00 am
      Ends: June 23, 2013 - 12:00 am
      Location: Orinsay Hall
      Description: 3-DAY EVENT – ‘Slighe Chaluim Chille – Links Between Western Ireland and the Western Isles’ – Orinsay Hall from midday Thursday 20th – to midday Saturday 22nd June – (details to be announced later)
    • Events on June 22, 2013
      Guided Walk
      Starts: 2:00 pm
      Ends: June 22, 2013 - 4:00 pm
      Location: Hushinish car park (NA 992 120),
      Description: 2-4pm
      Hushinish Machair Flowers – Curracag Event
      Meet: Hushinish car park (NA 992 120),
      Distance: 2 miles
      Level: Grade A
      The Outer Hebrides are home to the fi nest machair
      in the world. This is a chance to take a short walk
      around Hushinish, and learn about the beautiful
      plants of this special habitat. This walk is part of the
      Curracag (Outer Hebrides Natural History Society)
      programme of spring events, and there is a charge
      of £4 for non members/£2 for members For more
      details and the full Curracag programme visit
      http://www.curracag.org.uk
    • Events on June 29, 2013
      Barrathon
      Starts: 12:00 am
      Ends: June 30, 2013 - 12:00 am
      Location: Castlebay Isle of Barra
      Description: Registration for the Barrathon 2013 opened at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 22nd January at the SiEntiries website.
      All places were snapped up in just 6 minutes!
      Registration for the Fun Runs and tickets for the ceilidh will be available on this website in February.