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A short walk on Barra

A short walk on Barra


Postby bootsandpaddles » Tue Apr 20, 2010 4:59 pm

Route description: Eoligarry Explorer

Date walked: 20/04/2010

Time taken: 2 hours

Distance: 6 km

Ascent: 180m

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We parked near the small jetty at Eolaigearraidh (NF076713)
start of the walk.jpg
and set off north around the headland and on to a typical Hebridean beach. A wonderful curve of sand studded with cockleshells,
beach 2.jpg
sparkling clear water in stunning shades of blue and green,
blue sea.jpg
sand dunes and, in the distance, the hills of South Uist.
beach with hills of south uist.jpg
The scene was somewhat spoiled by the presence in the dunes of rusting wrecks of cars – clearly this is the local dumping ground for redundant vehicles. :thumbdown: After about 1.5km we climbed up over the dunes to the road which continued north until it finally stopped. All along the road the fence posts were covered in snails – a remarkable sight. What were they doing? :eh:
the snails.jpg
We didn’t see this weird behaviour anywhere else. A gate led into a field and we followed the coast round the headland and then ascended Beinn Sgurabhal.
view from Beinn Sgurabhal.jpg
Although only 79m in height it gives a great view of the island of Fuday to the east.
fuday.jpg
cockleshell bay and Fuday.jpg
Dropping down the other side we walked a short distance along the road until at a point where the road turns sharply left we went through a gate and on to the open hillside of Beinn Eolaigearraidh – a heady 102m. But from there you can see the huge sweep of Traigh Eais, the beach on the opposite side of the peninsula to Barra airport, with lines of white topped waves rolling in.
Traigh Eais.jpg
Beinn Sgurabhal.jpg
Descending steeply down in an easterly direction we came to Cille Barra,
Cille Barra.jpg
a cemetery with a small chapel in a beautiful setting. Inside the chapel are some ancient carved stones.
inside the chapel.jpg
It was then just a short walk back down the road to the car. A short but very enjoyable walk.

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Re: A short walk on Barra

Postby malky_c » Tue Apr 20, 2010 5:24 pm

Looks lovely - who needs the Med?

Our company did some investigation into coastal protection on the road out to that peninsula. Sadly it was my colleague who got to go out and do the site visit and me that got to check his report back in the office :?
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Re: A short walk on Barra

Postby Caberfeidh » Tue Apr 20, 2010 5:42 pm

bootsandpaddles wrote:The scene was somewhat spoiled by the presence in the dunes of rusting wrecks of cars


malky_c wrote:Our company did some investigation into coastal protection on the road out to that peninsula


I'm sure that's what the old wrecked cars are for - to stabilise the dunes. It would be nice if some more picturesque manner of stabilising them was found !
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Re: A short walk on Barra

Postby FloozySuzie » Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:06 pm

Wow, absolutely stunning pictures. I really want to travel up from Barra to Lewis this summer. It was supposed to happen last summer, but didn't. At the moment, nowhere abroad excites me.
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Re: A short walk on Barra

Postby bootsandpaddles » Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:01 am

FloozySuzie wrote:Wow, absolutely stunning pictures. I really want to travel up from Barra to Lewis this summer. It was supposed to happen last summer, but didn't. At the moment, nowhere abroad excites me.


We did it the other way round - north to south. It is a wonderful trip. There are wonderful beaches all down the west coast, some decent hills and lots of history. And the wild life is great too. Lots of birds including eagles, otters, dolphins etc. Also nice places to stay. I can recommend Dunard Hostel in Castlebay, An Bothan at Leverburgh and there are the Gatliffe hostels as well although the one at Howmore was closed for renovations when we were there. Have a good trip!
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Re: A short walk on Barra

Postby kevsbald » Wed Apr 21, 2010 9:40 am

Super stuff.
If Barra is anything like Harris, the beaches are 2nd to none. Why go abroad? Except for the fact that it's cheaper to sniff cocaine than it is petrol?
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Re: A short walk on Barra

Postby magicdin » Wed Apr 21, 2010 9:47 am

I also really fancy a trip from barra to lewis - take the boots,the camera,golf clubs,bike,tent etc

Oh and a good guide book so I don't miss the interesting features
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Re: A short walk on Barra

Postby Caberfeidh » Wed Apr 21, 2010 10:21 am

magicdin wrote:Oh and a good guide book so I don't miss the interesting features


Like that 12ft tall humoungous great big standing stone, Clach MacLeod ?! :lol:
Clach MacLeod and fallen stones 02.jpg
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Re: A short walk on Barra

Postby magicdin » Wed Apr 21, 2010 10:23 am

Caberfeidh wrote:
magicdin wrote:Oh and a good guide book so I don't miss the interesting features


Like that 12ft tall humoungous great big standing stone, Clach MacLeod ?! :lol:
Clach MacLeod and fallen stones 02.jpg


aye things like that :oops: - go on rub it in why don't ye :(
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Re: A short walk on Barra

Postby Caberfeidh » Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:49 am

magicdin wrote:
Caberfeidh wrote:
magicdin wrote:Oh and a good guide book so I don't miss the interesting features


Like that 12ft tall humoungous great big standing stone, Clach MacLeod ?! :lol:
The attachment Clach MacLeod and fallen stones 02.jpg is no longer available


aye things like that :oops: - go on rub it in why don't ye :(


OK Then...

Humoungous conspicuous giant great big enormous standing stone.jpg


You'll be telling us next you've never noticed those great big carved stones near Stornoway.... :D

Stornoway Ranu.jpg
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Re: A short walk on Barra

Postby magicdin » Wed Apr 21, 2010 12:10 pm

caberfeidh wrote
You'll be telling us next you've never noticed those great big carved stones near Stornoway.... :D



naw - ah didnae see them either - but they do look familar somehow
I did see this rock at the back of an cliseam - looks like robbie coltrane don't you think
Image
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Re: A short walk on Barra

Postby Caberfeidh » Wed Apr 21, 2010 2:56 pm

magicdin wrote: looks like robbie coltrane don't you think


Yes ! It could be that Big Jazza is worshipped as a god by the primitive islanders. Unless you noticed another nearby which looked like Stan Laurel ? Perhaps a wizard wheeze pulled by the Sons of the Desert ? :D
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Re: A short walk on Barra

Postby magicdin » Wed Apr 21, 2010 3:15 pm

yes could be oliver hardy could'nt it
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Re: A short walk on Barra

Postby mountain coward » Fri Apr 23, 2010 3:11 am

totally jealous - haven't been to the islands now for about 10 years due to this silly Munroing habit I've gone and got! All my friends will have forgotten me :(

Agree those cars shouldn't have been dumped on the beach as they're dangerous - twisted, rusting metal buried half-hidden in sand... but I really don't agree with those who try to interfere with the islanders leaving their old vehicles along their driveways - to me that's just history and it's on their property.

To all those arguing about those stones, I have just this to say to close the conversation... :D
S Uist-finger stone.jpg
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Re: A short walk on Barra

Postby magicdin » Fri Apr 23, 2010 8:47 am

mountain coward wrote:To all those arguing about those stones, I have just this to say to close the conversation... :D
S Uist-finger stone.jpg



how - who was arguing - all sweetness and light on here

peace Image


good picture though - reciprocated :D (edit -with knobs on)
Image
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