Outer Heb-walk
Barra cycling route
Key Facts
- Location: Barra, Outer Hebrides
- Size: 5875 hectares
- Terrain: Good quality roads
- Access: Ferry from Oban or Eriskay
- Height gain: 201 metres
- Map: OS Explorer 452 Barra and Vatersay
- Starting point: Anywhere on the coastal road
Barra is the most southerly of the inhabited islands in the Outer Hebrides. With vast sand beaches, a wild and hilly interior and beautiful machair it is a wonderful place to visit and this circular cycling route offers the best way of experiencing its breathtaking scenery. It has one of the world’s only tidal airports with two or so flights a day landing on the beach at Cockle Strand and with plenty of history and strong community spirit there is plenty to discover.
Barra round island cycle route summary
This circular route is straightforward to follow on the A888 which loops around the island. It includes optional spurs on minor roads to explore the stunning beaches and villages of the most northerly point of the island; along to the Sound of Barra ferry port for great views across to Eriskay; and a southern loop to the causeway across to Vatersay.
Barra round island cycle route description
It is possible to start at any point on this route. The west coast is open to the full force of the Atlantic with beautiful machair and vast white beaches and it can be interesting cycling this in a strong wing (this is the only time that I have fallen off my bike going downhill due to a lack of momentum!).
The loop around the north is worthwhile to stop and watch one of the scheduled flights landing at Barra Airport’s beach at low tide and then go on to explore the little visited beach of Traigh Sgurabhal.
The route down the east coast is gentle with plenty of sheltered coves to explore before turning west to climb the flanks of the island’s highest hill, Heabhal, to the high point of the ride and great views across Castlebay to Kisimul Castle perched on rocks in the Bay. For more details on the Barra cycle route download the GPX.
Views of rural life on Barra
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