Barra and Vatersay are the Southernmost  inhabited islands of the Outer Hebridies. The population in the 2001 census was 1,172. 

Barra is the larger of the two islands lying to the North of Vatersay, being approximately 8 miles long and 5 miles across. The main port and focus of population on Barra is Castlebay, which is on the South of the island. The centre of the island is dominated by hills with most of the crofts and crofting townships being situated either along the coasts or in glens, where these occur. The West and North of Barra has areas of low lying machair land, characterised by grasslands, sand dunes and shellsand beaches. 

Ferries are the main means of access to Barra, there being two ferry teminals.  The main linkspan terminal is based in Castlebay and connects with Oban on the Mainland. Travelling direct from Oban by ferry takes approximately five hours.  Ardmhor is the second ferry port providing a shorter crossing to Barra from Eriskay, from which travellers can access the Uists, Harris and Lewis. Typically this crossing takes forty minutes. Both ferry routes are run by Caledonian MacBrayne.

Barra is famous for its airport at Traigh Mhor in the North of the Island. On Barra the beach is the runway and tides influence when planes arrive and depart. There are flights direct from Glasgow and indirectly from Inverness (via Stornoway and Benbecula). The airport is also the point of access to Barra for the Air Ambulance Service

VATERSAY lies to the south of Barra facing Castlebay across the Sound of Vatersay. Think of a capital letter "H" laid on its side, and you have a rough idea of the geography of the island. Overall it is approximately three miles by three, but so deeply indented by the sea from the east and west that only a narrow strip of machair, or grassland and dunes, prevents it becoming two separate islands.

In 1991 the Vatersay causeway was completed, allowing vehicular traffic easy access to the island. Prior to the opening of the causeway Vatersay's population had been declining and by 1988 had fallen to 65. This trend has now been reversed with an increase to 94 in the 2001 census.

While Barra and Vatersay are the two populated islands in the southernmost Hebrides, there are numerous unpopulated islands, lying to the South of Vatersay and the East of Barra.  Many of these islands, such as Mingulay, were occupied in the relatively recent past and have their own histories.

Fisheries are of huge importance to the economies of Barra and Vatersay.The main fisheries pier is at Northbay, however shellfish are landed at several piers, slips and jettys around the islands. Both islands also have large crofting communiites.Tourism has become increasingly important to the islands. 

All Barra and Vatersay documents and projects are listed below:

Barra and Vatersay projects
Barra and Vatersay documents

Local Development Officer:
Gerard MacDonald
E-mail: bvcltd@btconnect.com
Phone: 01871 810184

Local Web Links

Barra Community Radio