A WONDERFUL BEACH WALK ON BARRA

Start: Barra Airport car park (free)

Distance:6km return ; Ascent 73m; Time taken : 2 hrs

Difficulty: easy though path beyond the beach and up to the Dun, a bit faint in places. Beach walking for a large part. Minor climb up to ruin of the ancient fort.

Rating:5 star

The Outer Hebrides (or Western Isles as they are also called) have some of the most magnificent beaches I’ve seen anywhere – including the Caribbean!

This is my favourite walk on the beautiful island of Barra, best kept for a sunny day but suitable all year round.I’ve walked this short, gorgeous route in winter and summer and it sums up in many ways what the Outer Isles are all about.

The short drive from Castlebay to the airport car park took about 20 mins and was lovely given the rising sun…

We set off during our November trip in 2023 (blessed with great weather throughout, better than summer, albeit not warm) , parking at the airport, where a flight was due in. But it was delayed AND we had a ferry to catch later that morning to Eriskay so we didn’t have time to hang about and watch this world famous flight landing – worth it if you’ve never seen it before. Quite a sight as it comes to rest on the enormous strand at low tide; we could still see the wheel marks of previous flights etched into the wet sand.People still gather cockles on the beach and there were a few folk WAY out at the water’s edge with pails.I felt like shouting – keep your heads down! The beach landing area is below…

Walked across the road and through the gate to an obvious path which headed for the big dunes of Traigh Iar (West Beach). The path, looking back to the airport.

It was still quite early, maybe 8.30am and given it was winter, the sun was not quite shining on the sands fully yet.

Our objective – the ruin of Dun Scurrival – is the high point of the headland, in sunshine, in the above photo.

A summer photo of the beach once through the dunes…

We didn’t hang about given the time pressure and made our way north to the end of the gorgeous white sands where a little muddy, rocky path clambers up onto the moorland and a higher track.This gives wonderful views back along the beach.

The ruins of Dun Scurrival , an ancient (2,000 yrs old) Dun or Iron Age fort, is perched on an outcrop above Traigh Iar.

It was just a case of making our way across the grass in its direction, not really a path as I recall but you can’t go wrong.In 10 mins we had slogged our way to the top, a stunning spot which in summer is covered in wildflowers – sea pinks in spring and fragrant wild thyme from June or July onwards. Summer views below…

It’s a little slice of paradise up there and we’ve usually had it to ourselves – as we did today.Wild thyme, so fragrant in summer…

A wee explore of the old walls and stones…who lived here once? These forts were look out towers as they are usually sited with a great view over the sea, allowing a good scan for enemy ships.

North over the sea of islands, lies South Uist and Eriskay…

It’s possible to carry on down the moorland and make for the next small hill, Beinn Scurrival.

We did this once then simply dropped down to the single track road, crossed onto Scurrival beach where it was easiest walking (the tide was out)and strolled most of the way back to the airport, joining the road when rocks finally barred our way.

Cille Barra, a beautiful old church and graveyard is also just off the single track road and well worth a look.

Today however, we simply retraced our steps to the car –  no hardship to enjoy West Beach all over again.Summer and winter photos…

In season, there’s a good café at the airport which anyone can pop into but it was closed today, unfortunately (I could have done with a cuppa!)

Really, this is THE walk to do on Barra , a nice family walk also, not too long and no difficulties as such.A little bit boggy in places but that’s a given in Scotland!

The Hebrides all around, the surf pounding the shell sand, little islets in the emerald and turquoise sea, the mountains of South Uist to the north and those of Skye and Rum to the east.Just a stunning panorama all round and a very difficult spot to leave.