Exploring the the Isle of Barra in your Campervan, or Motorhome.
The journey to the Isle of Barra, sailing from Eriskay, exemplifies the unique charm of the Outer Hebrides. Despite its small size - only 8 miles long and 5 miles wide, with one single main circular road, Barra offers a rich blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. The island boasts stunning beaches, rugged mountains, a vibrant community spirit, abundant wildlife and a deep clan history. Barra also stands out as a family-friendly destination. You can watch a short visit of our time on the Isle of Barra here. You can buy a Google Map guide to the Outer Hebrides here.
Where is the Island of Barra?
Barra is an island in the Outer Hebrides, off the West Coast of the Scottish mainland and the second southernmost inhabited island there, after the adjacent island of Vatersay to which it is connected by a 200m causeway.
How can you get to the Isle of Barra?
Visiting Barra is often combined with trips to other Outer Hebridean islands, but Barra is definitely worth a dedicated ferry journey. If you're planning to head there in your campervan, there are a few ways to reach this charming island. The Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry sails from Oban to Castlebay daily during the summer months and five times a week in winter. While the nearly five-hour journey might seem long, it's absolutely worth it. Alternatively, if you're coming from Uist, you can take a small vehicle ferry from Eriskay. This 40-minute trip runs daily, up to five times a day. During the summer months, there's also a weekly sail to Barra from Tiree (currently on Wednesdays).
Alternatively, if you wanted to travel to Barra in complete luxury, you could choose to fly into Barra Airport. It is the only airport in the world where scheduled flights land on a tidal beach! Flights are scheduled with the tide times, operating twice daily flights to and from Glasgow - producing a vital link for residents and visitors alike. Orange windsocks blow to alert the public that the airport is in use, so the public need to stay off the beach. When the airport is closed and the windsocks are down, members of the public are free to walk and enjoy the beach! Click here to see a plane landing on the beach.
How long do you need to explore the Isle of Barra?
Determining how long to stay on the Isle of Barra depends largely on your schedule and interests. While we spent three nights and four days there and found it delightful, we could have easily enjoyed a full week. However, if you are pressed for time, you can drive around the island in under an hour. If you're including Barra in a broader Outer Hebrides itinerary, it's worth dedicating at least a couple of days to this charming island. This is especially true if you're travelling with children - Barra was a favourite for our own children.
What do I need to know before camping in the Isle of Barra?
Barra is a very small island and the usual apps we use to find wild camping spots showed absolutely no suggestions. On arrival and after driving around the island in less than an hour, we realised there are few options to wild camp in Barra and none of the official designated overnight parking areas that we had got used to in the rest of the Outer Hebrides. The island is perfectly compact, with only one main circular road around it. If you are happy to camp next to the main road, then there are a couple of options, but for us as a family with a dog, that isn’t an option. Click here for Wild Camping Dos and Don’ts. Instead we emailed a local campsite and luckily they had an availability for as long as we wanted on a non-electric pitch. We arrived at Scurrival Campsite to the warmest welcome we have ever received in our lives and we instantly knew we’d made the right decision. Angus greeted us all as if we were long-lost friends - apparently it’s the Hebridean way. Click here for a full review.
➡️ For a full list of campsites open in 2021 www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk website.
Castlebay is the largest village in Barra. There is a large coop, which sells a wide range of fresh produce. Bùth Bharraigh is a community run shop that sells local home baking, homemade vegetarian meals, crafts, gifts and produce including fish. It also brings in a wide range of wholefoods, yarn and craft supplies, books (English and Gaelic), fishing and surfing accessories.
Whilst there are very few opportunities to wild camp on Barra, there are some designated overnight parking spots in adjoining Vatersay. A donation of £5 is asked. There are no facilities in these areas, or wifi so please ensure you are a self-contained unit.
What else do I need to know before visiting the Isle of Barra in my Campervan or Motorhome?
✅ There is only one official chemical disposal point in Barra at Castle Bay Pier, but the majority of campsites will allow you to empty waste for a small fee. You can find a map of all of the chemical disposal sites throughout the Outer Hebrides here.
✅ Actively support the island economy - use campsites, ensure you pay for use of community overnight parking spots, visit cafes, shops and local traders. Often the smallest shops will be overflowing with essentials. The smallest campsites are very affordable. We paid only £10.
✅ The local Coop has more than enough fresh produce. You do not need to stock up before arriving. The prices also reflect those on the mainland.
❌ Open fires are not encouraged and not permitted on the machair (coastal grassland).
✅ Ensure you always leave no trace. All rubbish should be emptied in the bins provided, or take it with you if they are full. For more Dos and Don’t when Wild Camping, click here.
➡️ Everyone is encouraged to use recycling points to minimise waste and help maintain the environment. Again, a list of these can be found on the Visit Outer Hebrides website and they are easy to spot as you drive.
What is there to do on the Isle of Barra?
Barra boasts some of the most beautiful beaches we’ve ever seen. Similar to the beaches in Harris, they are huge expanses of white sand and crystal clear water.
Other places to visit in Harris:
Climb Heaval - this is the highest hill on Barra, at a height of 383 meters. The views from the top are spectacular, particularly looking down towards Castlebay.
Go Golden Eagle spotting
Watch a plane land at Barra Airport
Explore the amazing beaches of Barra
Visit Vatersay
In summary, this tiny, but perfectly formed island will be sure to captivate you! Its friendly locals, balance of beautiful beaches and rugged hills will keep you wanting more.
Buy your Google Map guide to the Outer Hebrides here. It includes:
Campsite recommendations, overnight parking/ community wild camping spots, chemical disposal points, must see attractions and towns, beaches, hikes, food and drink recommendations, driving routes and blog post links.
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