Barra, Island in Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Barra is an island in the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland, covering roughly 5,875 hectares (14,500 acres) with the summit of Heaval rising 383 meters (1,256 feet) above its rolling interior. The coastline alternates between long white sand beaches on the west side and rocky coves to the east, while small lochs dot the grassy hills in the center.
The MacNeil clan ruled from Kisimul Castle on a small rocky island in Castlebay from the 11th century until the early 20th century, when the family sold the property. Before their arrival, Vikings had settled here, and earlier still, Neolithic communities left behind standing stones and burial cairns scattered across the landscape.
Many residents still speak Gaelic in daily conversation, which visitors hear in shops around Castlebay and see on bilingual road signs across the island. On summer weekends, families gather for céilidh evenings where local musicians play fiddle and accordion while guests learn and join in the traditional dances.
A ferry connects the island daily to Oban on the Scottish mainland, taking about five hours and docking at Castlebay on the south shore. Flights from Glasgow land on Traigh Mhòr beach at low tide, so schedules shift with the tides and need to be checked in advance.
The airport uses Traigh Mhòr beach as the only runway in the world where scheduled flights take off and land between tides. When the tide comes in, the entire runway disappears under water, so pilots and passengers must plan their travel around the tidal calendar.
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