The Ultimate Bagh a Deas Beach Guide (2026)
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Bagh a Deas is a little-known beach at the southern tip of Vatersay in the Outer Hebrides.
Most tourists head straight for Traigh a Bhaigh (East beach) when visiting Vatersay’s beaches but don’t underestimate this little gem.
Bagh a Deas is smaller but it is well worth the short walk to get here. It is one of those perfect quiet and secluded places to sit and enjoy the views out to sea.
Bagh a Deas Beach Map
Bagh a Deas is on Vatersay in Scotland. Vatersay is a small island in the Outer Hebrides.
You can visit Vatersay and Bagh a Deas on a day trip from Barra.
However that might make you wonder, how to get to Barra? There are flights and ferries to Barra and it is a short drive from Barra to Vatersay.
Having a rental car makes it much easier to visit but it is also possible to get here by public transport.
A rental car makes it more convenient to explore other beaches in Barra and Vatersay with both islands having some of the best beaches in the Outer Hebrides.
Book your car hire with Rental Cars
How to Access Bagh a Deas
Like most of the beaches in the Outer Hebrides it is best at low tide.
The most interesting way of getting to the beach is to do the circular walk around the tip of Vatersay (described below) but there is a shorter way.
If you only want to get to the beach then take a right at the T junction in Vatersay village. Where the tarmacked road ends go left towards the cemetery. From here it is about 800 metres over flat ground to the beach.
Vatersay circular walk:
- The walk is 7km in total and takes about 3 hours
- Park your car by the Vatersay Hall Café
Directions:
- Walk along Traigh Shiar (West beach). At the end of the beach go through the gate and start your ascent of the hill
- Follow the track right around the top of the hill and walk on to the standing stone
- From here the path turns to the left and goes inland until you get close to Bagh a Deas
- Continue past the beach along the shoreline to the ruins at Eorasdail
- By the ruins there are two other beaches to explore before you head back
- At the second beach it is easy to get lost. Don’t walk past this beach but backtrack to the ruins and head inland (north) towards Traigh a Bhaigh (East beach)
- Walk along Traigh a Bhaigh until the Vatersay beach gate which takes you back onto the road close by Vatersay Hall Café
Wooden poles mark the trail but some are missing and in places the path is unclear.
For a full description of the circular walk buy the Cicerone guide to Walking on Uist and Barra. It details several good walks in the area.
To plan your trip read my Vatersay beach and island guide
Where to Park
There are two car parks in Vatersay village;
- The first is on the left-hand side just before the T junction in the village. The what 3 word for the car park is wording.shunts.backpacks
- For the second, take a left at the T junction. On the right-hand side is a car park. The what 3 word for the parking is makeup.relies.generally
These car parks are rarely full since most people park up by the café to go to Traigh a Bhaigh (East beach).
If you are doing the walk described above you can also park by Vatersay Hall café.
Can You Swim Here?
Yes, you can swim at the beach. A couple of islands offshore mean that you normally don’t get large waves but assess the weather and the swells before deciding whether to swim.
What Activities Is the Beach Suitable For?
Bagh a Deas is a calm bay but the problem is you have to get any water sports equipment to the beach. The only way to get here is on foot so the beach is better for walking than watersports.
The beach is dog friendly but there are cattle in the area so make sure you keep dogs on a lead.
Best Viewpoints
There are no specific viewpoints.
Having said that, doing the circular walk detailed above in an anticlockwise direction you get one of the best views of the beach on the approach.
If only visiting the beach, climb the verges on each side. For photos one side is best in the morning and the other in the afternoon.
One of the most enjoyable ways to experience Bagh a Deas is by sitting on the beach and just admiring the amazing scenery. Some days you will have to share the beach with roaming cows but since it takes 10-15 minutes to walk here there won’t be any other people.
Other Things to Do in the Area
A visit to Bagh a Deas is a fantastic day trip from Barra but make sure to also explore the rest of Vatersay.
The circular walk mentioned above passes all the sites described below.
Traigh a Bhaigh (East Beach)
Being on the eastern side of the island the bay is well protected from the waves that roll in from the Atlantic Ocean. At the end, closest to the Vatersay Hall café, the beach has nice white sand which makes it a popular beach for swimming.
Traigh Shiar (West Beach)
Traigh Shiar is much quieter than Traigh a Bhaigh despite the two beaches being right next to each other. Most days the wind and waves make Triagh Shiar a great beach for an interesting walk but not as good for swimming or sitting on the beach.
Standing Stone
Little is known about what this stone was for but the walk here is worth it for the views south to the islands of Mingulay, Pabbay and Sandray.
Ruins at Eorasdail
Fishermen from the isle of Mingulay created this small settlement. They came to Vatersay in the 1900s when it became too difficult to live on Mingulay.
The problem was they didn’t own the land. The landlord tried to evict the settlers but in the end the Scottish Board of Agriculture purchased the land and divided it into crofts.
What is left of the stone houses looks ancient but the village was only abandoned in the 1970s
Annie Jane Memorial
In 1853 a storm made the sailing ship Annie Jane seek refuge in Vatersay bay. During the storm it ran onto the rocks and 350 people lost their lives. More than three quarters of the people onboard died in the tragedy.
Also visiting Barra? Read my post on the best things to do on Barra
Restaurant and Cafes Nearby
There is only one café in Vatersay, The Vatersay Hall Café. It is on the right-hand side where Traigh a Bhaigh (East beach) and Traigh Shiar (West beach) starts.
It serves drinks and lunch but the main reason to visit is for their home-made cakes.
Opening times
Summer months (April to October)
Mon – Sat 11 – 4pm
Sun 12 – 3pm
Winter months (November to March)
Closed
How to Get Here by Public Transport?
You can get to Vatersay and Bagh a Deas from Barra. From any other destination you have to travel to Barra first.
Public transport in the Outer Hebrides is limited so I highly recommend booking a rental car for your trip.
By Bus: The W33 Castlebay to Vatersay bus runs from the Co-op and pier in Castlebay on Barra to the parking area (described above) in Vatersay village.
The bus runs Monday to Saturday and the journey takes 15-20 minutes. There is no service on Sundays.
Every day there are two scheduled departures in the morning and a third in the afternoon, which must be requested ahead of time. By booking the afternoon return in advance you can spend a day in Vatersay. This gives you enough time to do the walk described above, visit this amazing beach and have a cake at the café.
To make sure you don’t get stranded in Vatersay check the latest bus schedule before travelling and confirm return times with the bus driver on the day.
By Bike: It is only 6 miles from where the road ends in Vatersay to Castlebay on Barra. Hiring a bike at Barra Bike Hire provides more flexibility than getting the bus. It also alloww you to stop of at many of the other beaches on Vatersay on the way.
You can rent standard bikes or e-bikes from half a day to multiple days.
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