Exactly How to Get to Barra
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Wondering how to get to Barra? There are several routes from the UK mainland to Barra.
When you start planning the first decision to make is whether to take a plane or a ferry. There are no trains to Barra and it is not possible to drive across from the mainland.
There are pluses and minuses for both options. The plane is the fastest but its expensive.
The ferries to Barra takes a lot longer and seas can be rough. On the plus side it is much cheaper than flying. In addition, you can rent a car on the mainland which is both cheaper than hiring on Barra and you will have more choice of cars.
Having tried several options, I now get the ferry every time.
How to Get to Barra Route Map
There are several ferry routes to the Outer Hebrides. Routes shown in red are ferry routes and the one in blue is by plane.
- Oban to Barra ferry
- Eriskay to Barra ferry
- Tiree to Barra ferry
- Glasgow to Barra plane
You can fly to Barra from many other destinations but they all have a stop in Glasgow. There is only one direct flight to Barra and that is from Glasgow.
How to Travel by Ferry to Isle of Barra
Who Operates the Ferries and How to Book Tickets?
Calmac operate most ferries in Scotland. Book tickets directly via their website.
I highly recommend renting a car with RentalCars.
1. Oban to Barra Ferry (Oban to Castlebay Ferry)
Oban to Barra ferry time: 4 hours and 45 minutes
Departures per day: 1 per day during the summer
Oban to Barra ferry cost: £106 one way for two adults and one car
This is the only ferry to Barra from mainland Scotland. It arrives in Castlebay, the largest town on Barra.
The ferry sailing this route is one of the largest in the Calmac fleet. This means it has plenty of facilities such as a restaurant and a play area for children.
Another benefit of the large size is that it usually as availability. Even in the peak summer months you can normally book a ticket for the ferry a few days in advance. Having said that, don’t leave it that late with booking your ticket!
Route considerations:
- Barra is one of the easiest islands in the Outer Hebrides to get to by public transport. The time of the ferry Oban to Barra corresponds with the arrival of the train between Glasgow and Oban
- The ferries from Oban to Barra is the longest ferry journey to the Outer Hebrides. It travels through what can sometimes be rough seas. Anyone suffering from seasickness should consider a shorter ferry route such as taking the ferry from Skye to North Uist and then from Eriskay to Barra
- The ferry from Barra to Oban departs at 7am. Check in for cars closes 45 minutes before departure and for foot passengers 30 minutes before. This means a very early departure from your hotel to be at the Castlebay ferry terminal in time for the sailing
- In the waters around Barra there is lots of wildlife. Look out for dolphins and whales. I once saw a minke whale breach right below the window I was looking out of on the ferry between Barra and Oban!
Oban to Barra ferry timetable
The below Oban to Barra ferry times should only be used as a guide when planning your itinerary. Ferry times rarely change from one year to the next but there is no guarantee that the Oban to Castlebay timetable will be the same every year.
Oban to Barra ferry summer timetable
Oban to Barra ferry winter timetable
Accommodation
The ferry to the Isle of Barra rarely sells out. However, the same cannot be said for the hotels and B&Bs on the island. Book accommodation well in advance.
A couple of recommended options are:
Barra
- Sealladh na Mara B&B – the breakfast at this B&B is amazing
Oban
- No26 By The Sea – a high end hotel at Oban’s sea front that get rave reviews
- Ardmhor Guest House – mid range B&B with sea views
2. Eriskay to Barra Ferry (Ardmhor to Eriskay Ferry)
Eriskay – Barra ferry time: 40 minutes
Departures per day: 5 per day during the summer
Eriskay – Barra ferry cost: £18.50 one way for two adults and one car
The Barra to Eriskay ferry departs from the northern end of Barra. The ferry terminal is called Ardmhor.
At the Eriskay ferry terminal there is a waiting room and toilets but no food options.
The ferry is small with limited facilities. For meals it is better to eat at the SS Politican pub on Eriskay or the café at the Ardhmor ferry terminal.
Route considerations:
- A short ferry ride which is unlikely to have rough seas for any prolonged period
- Several daily departures make it easy to travel between the two destinations
- Check in closes 20 minutes before departure for both cars and foot passengers
- There is no Barra to South Uist ferry. The Ardmhor to Eriskay ferry is a good alternative. From Eriskay ferry terminal it is a 25-minute drive to Lochboisdale
- Look out for the large seal colony on the rocks as you approach the ferry terminal in Barra. They can also sometimes be heard from the the Barra shoreline!
- Visit the Eriskay beaches or the South Uist beaches, they are beautiful. Make sure you have time to explore before taking the ferry.
Timetable for the ferry Barra to Eriskay
The below Eriskay to Barra ferry timetable should only be used as a guide when planning your itinerary. Ferry times rarely change from one year to the next but there is no guarantee that they will be the same each year.
Eriskay to Barra ferry timetable – summer
Barra to Eriskay ferry timetable – winter
Visiting Eriskay? Read my Eriskay beach guide
3. Tiree to Barra Ferry
Tiree to Barra ferry time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Departures per day: 1 per week in the summer (Wednesday)
Tiree to Barra ferry cost: £71 one way for two adults and one car
As you can see from the timetable below this ferry makes many stops. The route is Oban – Coll – Tiree – Castlebay – Tiree – Coll – Oban.
It is possible to take this route from Barra to Oban but it is not recommended. Since the ferry stops at both Tiree and Coll on the way it takes 7 hours!
The direct Barra to Oban ferry described above only takes 4 hours and 45 minutes.
Timetable for the Barra to Tiree ferry
Only use the below timetable as a guide. Ferry times rarely change from one year to the next but there is no guarantee that they will be the same each year.
Ferry to Tiree timetable – summer
Oban to Tiree ferry timetable – winter
No service
To plan your trip to Barra read my post on the best things to do on Barra
How to Travel by Plane to Barra
Who Operates the Flights and How to Book Tickets?
Loganair operate the flights to Barra airport in Scotland.
Direct flights are only operated from Glasgow but you can buy through tickets from many airports in the UK as well as other international airports.
One thing to be aware of is you can only buy tickets a few months in advance.
My favourite site for buying flight tickets is kayak.com. The site allows you to compare different travel agencies to find the cheapest option.
1. Flights From Barra to Glasgow
Glasgow to Isle of Barra Journey time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Departures per day: 2
Fly from Glasgow to Barra for the quickest route to Barra. Scotland has several other domestic airports but direct flights to Isle of Barra are only operated from Glasgow.
Both the Isle of Lewis and the Isle of Benbecula, two other islands in the Outer Hebrides, have airports.
However, all flights from Stornoway to Barra or from Benbecula to Barra are via Glasgow. Therefore the ferry is normally the best option for travelling between the islands in the Outer Hebrides.
Route considerations:
- Quickest route to Barra
- Flights to the Isle of Barra are expensive, partly because the airport is so unique. It is the only airport in the world that has a tidal runway. Many people take the Glasgow to Barra flight just for the experience of landing on a beach. Some even return on the same flight they arrived on. That means the total time on Barra is less than an hour!
- Car rental on Barra is more expensive and there is less choice than on the mainland
The airport on Barra is so unique that watching a plane land and take off is one of the top things to see on Barra. The beach the planes land on is part of a beautiful bay called Traigh Mhor.
Barra has amazing beaches. Read my post on what are the best beaches on Barra
How to Get To Barra From UK Mainland
How to Get From London to Barra?
The quickest way from London to the Isle of Barra is flying. British Airways sell tickets from Heathrow and Gatwick to Barra. All flights have a connection in Glasgow. In total the flight time can be as little as 4 to 5 hours.
The cheapest route to Barra from London is to fly to Glasgow or Inverness. Stay overnight and take the ferry from Oban to Barra the following morning.
The first flight from London to Glasgow only lands in Glasgow at 9 am so any delay would mean that you would miss the ferry.
How to Get From Inverness to Barra?
The best way of getting from Inverness to Barra is using the ferry.
From Inverness it is just over 3 hours by car to Oban for the ferry. Public transport is less convenient taking a minimum of 4.5 hours and involving changing buses in Fort William.
Flights from Inverness to Barra have several stops and as a result it is both expensive and time consuming. Connecting flights from Inverness can be booked through kayak.com but not directly with Loganair.
How to Get to Barra From Glasgow?
The quickest way from Glasgow to the Isle of Barra is flying. Flights from Glasgow to Barra take about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
There is no ferry from Glasgow to Barra. To take the ferry drive the 2.5 hours to Oban where you can take the ferry to Barra from Oban.
How to Get to Barra From Edinburgh?
The quickest way to Barra from Edinburgh is travelling via Glasgow. Take the train to Glasgow and then a flight from Glasgow to Barra. It will be significantly cheaper and take less time than flying from Edinburgh.
There are no direct flights from Isle of Barra to Edinburgh. Flights from Edinburgh to Barra have two stops and are very expensive. Flights from Glasgow to Barra are direct.
Alternatively it is a 3.5 hours drive, or about 4.5 hours by train, from Edinburgh to Oban. From Oban you can take the Oban to Castlebay ferry.
How to Get to Barra From Skye?
There is no direct route to Barra from Skye. From Oban to Skye (Portree) it is a 4-hour drive. In Oban you can take the Oban to Barra ferry.
Alternatively consider adding a couple of days on one of the other islands in the Outer Hebrides. There is a direct Skye to Harris ferry as well as direct ferries to North Uist.
The beaches on North Uist are amazing and there are many interesting historic sites such as Dun Tourcill.
After a few days exploring North and South Uist take the ferry from Eriskay to Ardmhor on Barra.
FAQs on How to Get to Isle of Barra
Ferry routes that do not exist
There are many ferry routes to the Outer Hebrides but online there are several mentions of ferries that do not exist. Below is a list of the most frequently searched non-existent ferries, together with a real, alternative route:
- Mallaig to Isle of Barra ferry/ Mallaig to Castlebay ferry – there is a ferry from Mallaig to Lochboisdale on South Uist. Combine this ferry with the ferry from Eriskay to Ardmhor (Barra). A second option is to drive from Mallaig to Oban and take the ferry from Oban to Barra.
- Castlebay to Lochboisdale ferry/ South Uist to Barra ferry – an alternative is the ferry from Ardmhor on Barra to Eriskay. From Eriskay ferry terminal it is a 25-minute drive to Lochboisdale. Eriskay and South Uist are linked by a causeway making it easy to drive between the two islands.
- Skye to Barra ferry – there is no direct ferry from Skye to Barra. There are two alternatives. The first is to take the ferry from Skye to North Uist and then from Eriskay to Barra. The second is to drive to Oban and take the Oban to Barra ferry.
How reliable are the ferries?
Generally the ferry Barra to Oban is one of the more reliable. Having said that many of Calmac’s vessels are old and technical faults happen.
April to end of September is considered the summer season. During this time cancellations due to weather are much less likely than during the winter months.
However, bad weather or technical faults can happen at any time of year. Always plan a buffer of a day or two between your ferry and your flight home.
Do you need a car on Barra?
Yes, you need a car on Barra. There are not many buses and relying on these will significantly limit what you can see.
Cycling is another popular way of getting around.
Can you take your car to Barra?
If travelling by ferry you can bring your car to Barra.
Book your car hire with Rental Cars
Can I bring my dog to Barra?
Yes, you can bring your dog on the ferry to Barra. When buying your ticket for the ferry from Oban to Barra make sure you add a dog ticket. They are free of charge but you will not be allowed to bring your dog without a ticket.
Onboard there are specific areas for passengers with dogs.
Where is Barra ferry terminal?
There are two ferry terminals on Barra. Neither is called “Barra ferry terminal”. One is in Castlebay and is called “Casltebay ferry terminal”. The other is north on Barra and is called “Ardmhor ferry terminal”.
From the Castlebay ferry terminal ferries depart for Oban. From the Ardhmor ferry terminal ferries depart for Eriskay.
How to get to Barra by train?
It is not possible to travel to Barra by train. However, you can take the train to Oban and then take the Oban to Barra ferry. All ferry departures on this route are scheduled to correspond with the train times.
Are there any flights from Barra to Oban?
No, there are no flights from Barra to Oban. Oban doesn’t have an airport.
Either get one of the ferries from Oban to Barra or fly Glasgow to Barra.
Final Thoughts on the Ferries and Flights to Barra
Whatever route you decide on it takes time, money and effort to get to Barra. The effort getting there means that not many people bother. But that is likely part of what makes it so special.
Barra is beautiful. The scenery is amazing with white sandy beaches and green hills.
Don’t let the cost of the flights or the long ferry journey put you off planning a trip to this beautiful island!
LOOKING FOR MORE ON THE OUTER HEBRIDES?
