2021

NF7202 : Barra - Safe passage buoys, entrance to Bàgh Thiarabhagh

taken 3 years ago, near to Bruernish, Barra, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scotland

Barra - Safe passage buoys, entrance to Bàgh Thiarabhagh
Barra - Safe passage buoys, entrance to Bàgh Thiarabhagh
The red (port) and green (starboard) buoys marking the safe channel into the convoluted Bàgh Thiarabhagh as seen from the end of the minor road through Bruernish (Bruairnis) on Barra.
Barra (Barraigh) :: NL6698

The Isle of Barra (Barraigh) is towards the southern end of the long chain of islands that constitutes the Outer Hebrides. Since 1991 it has been joined by a 200m long causeway to its southern neighbour, Vatersay (Bhatarsaigh) the latter being the southernmost populated island of the archipelago. Beyond Vatersay to the south lie some uninhabited (but mostly formerly inhabited) islands, principal among which are (in order from N to S): Sandray (Sanndraigh), Pabbay (Pabaigh), Mingulay (Miùghlaigh) and finally Berneray (Beàrnaraigh) also known as Barra Head.
Barra is quite a bustling island for its size, having amongst the highest population densities of the outer islands (viz. 20/km² roughly twice that of Lewis with Harris for example). The entirety of this population is situated around the coast or a little way inland along valleys, the centre of the island being mountainous and uninhabited.
One circular road (the A888) forms a circuit around the bulk of the island with a branching minor road heading into the Eoligarry peninsula (where the airport is located, see below) and another spur running south around the perimeter of Beinn Tangabhal to the causeway to Vatersay.
The chief settlement of Castlebay is clearly the hub of the island with schools, shops, hotels, a particularly excellent café ( LinkExternal link ) and the port as well as Kisimul Castle on its own little islet in the bay, from which the town gets its name.
Barra airport is one of the World's most remarkable - it is situated on the Eoligarry peninsula towards the northern extremity of the island ... and it doesn't have a runway as such. Instead planes land and take off from the expansive beach of Tràigh Mhòr ("Big Beach"). Flight times are therefore dependent on the tide!
Statistics:
Area: 5,875ha (22⅔ miles²)
Population: 1,174 (2011 census)
Highest Point: Heaval (Heabhal), 384m (1,259')
Principal settlement: Castlebay (with perhaps a third of the island's population)


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Rob Farrow and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Coastal Islands Estuary, Marine Place: Bruernish Island: Barra Primary Subject: Buoy
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Barra [6] · Bruernish [6] · Road [4] · Bruernish Bruairnis [2] · Channel [2] ·
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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NF7202, 20 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Rob Farrow   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Sunday, 27 June, 2021   (more nearby)
Submitted
Friday, 16 July, 2021
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NF 7241 0280 [10m precision]
WGS84: 56:59.9830N 7:23.8377W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NF 7229 0264
View Direction
Northeast (about 45 degrees)
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Image Type (about): geograph  · First in 5 Years (TPoint) (about)
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