gordon stokes photography

Barraigh (Barra) and Bhatarsaigh (Vatersay), Outer Hebrides

Vatersay - Bhattersaigh

Vatersay (or Bhattersaigh, pronounced the same, in Gaelic) is the Southern most inhabited island of the Western Isles. It's joined to Barra by a causeway, but it still feels like it has a step change in terms of isolation.


A calm Bàgh Bhattersaigh

Barra - Barraigh

Barra is a small island, about 8 miles by 5, but very well known considering its size and population. It's famous for its airport which is on the beach and gets washed by the tides twice a day, and the island has also been used for many TV programmes.

Eoligarry - Eòlaigearraidh

Around the Northern end of the island the sand is white and sea shallow, and with the high light levels the shallower parts of the sea are always a beautiful turquoise, even when it's raining.


Eoligarry with cloud approaching (1564)


Mother goose in front, Eoligarry


From Eoligarry, early evening (1566)

Tràigh Sgurabhal

Tràigh Sgurabhal or Scurrival is the most northerly beach on Barra. It mainly faces north and, like most other beaches around has beautiful white sand which makes the water a kind of turquoise you expect from the tropics.
Take a look at satelite photography and it shows you can see the turquoise from space.

Tràigh Scurrival, 
Eoligarry, Barra Gordon Stokes
Northern Barra towards South Uist

Tràigh Scurrival, 
Eoligarry, Barra Gordon Stokes
Tràigh Sgurabhal, Eolaigearaidh, 
Barra Gordon Stokes
Tràigh Scurrival, Eoligarry, 
Barra Gordon Stokes
Tràigh Sgurabhal, Eolaigearaidh, 
Barra Gordon Stokes
Tràigh Sgurabhal or Scurrival




Shells, sand and dunes (1165 & 1166)

Tràigh Scurrival, 
Eoligarry, Barra, Gordon Stokes
Dunes, Tràigh Sgurabhal, Eolaigearaidh, Barra (1568)



Barra airport beach, Tràigh Mhòr

Barra airport is famous for being the only airport on a tidal beach, where the tides determine the timetable. I may be wrong but I think It's also the only airport with shell mosaics of wild birds on the walls of the cafe, and where you can buy a haggis and cheddar toastie. It's on Tràigh Mhòr, which means Big Beach.


Just off the runway at high tide


Airport beach (Tràigh Mhòr) with cloud approaching


Barra airport runway with an outgoing tide (1165)

Now the airport as an airport




 

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© Gordon Stokes, 2011-15