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The Isle of Barra often described as
the jewel of the Hebrides is the most westerly inhabited island in the
UK.
At approximately 8 miles (13kms) long
and 7 miles (11kms) wide and a total area of less than 40 sq miles
(100 sq kms) Barra epitomises all that is best in the Western Isles,
clean beaches, spectacular topography and a dominating seascape.
Due to its unique geographical
location as the most south westerly of the Outer Hebrides, Barra takes
advantage of the Atlantic weather systems which can produce strong and
almost constant winds making it ideal for kiting.
The compact size of Barra means the
best kiting location can be reached in a matter of minutes, with
beaches suitable for every wind direction.
There are a total of 7 beaches
suitable for both land and water based kiting and a further 3 kite
surfing specific beaches, all within a 30 minute drive of each other.
The following is an extract from
Tales of Barra by The Coddy reproduced by permission of Birlinn
Ltd (www.birlinn.co.uk),
it is as true a description of the beaches on Barra today, as it was
over sixty years ago when the book was first written.
“About the Traigh Iais I am proud to say that it is the
finest beach for professional bathers, or any other bathers, in the
whole universe.
The softness of the sand, where you can walk with
safety – it is as soft as velvet. If you were, on the other hand, a
capable surf swimmer I have seen people surf bathing who have been
round and round the world, on the various beaches of Africa, Australia
and New Zealand, and they came to decision that not in any part of the
universe did they bathe on a beach equal to Traigh Iais.”
Perhaps the biggest attraction of our
kiting locations is the fact that, with the exception of ourselves
(occasionally the aeroplane) and the odd dog walker, the beaches
remain empty allowing for a safe, if sometimes solitary, but
exceptionally unspoilt and beautiful kiting experience. |
