Day 25 - Barra and Vatersay
I did a run but it was a last minute decision so a bit later than usual. It was so very hilly.
The weather was very mixed. We had sunshine and very light rain until early afternoon when the rain stopped. We decided to drive the outer road around the island (A888) in a clockwise direction. There are not many points of interest along this road other than lovely scenic views. Most of the roads off of the A888 go to little communities, many of which have some derelict houses and a lot of abandoned vehicles
We watched the operations team prepare for the incoming flight. About half an hour before, a truck went along the beach and put up windsocks either side. It also cleared debris off the beach, in this case seaweed. We went into the terminal building which was tiny. It had a single check in desk, a departure and arrivals board and a small departure lounge where those going back to Glasgow were already gathering. There is a cafe but it was closed today with a note saying that as the cafe had been exceptionally busy in May, the owner was giving all the staff the day off. A lot of other tourists had the same idea and the car park was full. No one is allowed on the beach if the windsocks are flying but there is a very long fenced off area so everyone got a good view.
The flight arrived a few minutes late and landed in a shallow stretch of sea and turned and taxied to the terminal. The same truck that had picked up the seaweed unloaded the baggage and then the passengers got off, walked along the beach to collect their bags from the terminal building.
Shortly after landing the luggage for the departing passengers was loaded and then 13 of them boarded and the plane turned around, taxied towards the sea, turned again and took off very quickly and flew over our heads. The Italian we spoke to at breakfast had come in on this flight 2 days ago and he said it was a great experience.
In the terminal building we saw a sign for an unofficial parkrun on Saturday's. I had heard of this. Maybe it will become permanent sometime in the future.
The next flight was due about 3 hours later and they left the windsocks out so no-obe could use the beach. We continued up to the Eiogarry peninsula but it was mainly crofts. There was an honesty box with home baked cakes. I bought something to have with lunch, although I havent eaten it yet.
We went back to Castlebay for lunch. There is a small shop called Island Stores and they sell everything and even have their own cafe. We ordered baguettes and what came out was almost a full meal. We decided that we wouldnt want to go out to eat later.
The final bit of sightseeing was to Vatersay Island, linked to Barra by a causeway. We went to the end of one road and there was a derelict building with 3 abandoned vehicles. Opposite was a really nice, well kept house.
We went on to the south beach which is amazing. Such a very long stretch of clean yellow sand. Really lovely.
Before leaving Vatersay we stopped at a memorial to a Catalina plane crash in May 1944 where 9 people died and some others survived. The remains of the wreckage is still laying where it crashed.
We went back to the B&B and got ready to leave early tomorrow morning. Barra is nice but I think it is somewhere I see once but don't return to. Our ferry arrived this evening and we will be boarding early tomorrow for the 6:55 sailing to Oban.
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