Discover Castlebay holiday vacation accommodation to book direct with owners and providing accommodation and information for your stay in Castlebay which is the ‘capital’ of Barra with regular car-ferry services to the mainland and to south Uist and its island airport at Northbay only 5 miles away. The most striking feature of Castlebay is Kisimul Castle, the ancient stronghold of the MacNeils, who owned Barra and its neighbouring islands for many centuries until, about the beginning of last century with the decline in the fortunes ofthe Western Isles, the family emigrated to America. Start your search for holiday accommodation with stay4you.com
The Castle, on its small rocky island a few hundred yards from Castlebay pier, was indeed unoccupied for more than l5O years, and the MacNeils of Barra died' out in the direct male line in 1863, but, just before the Second World War, their descendant and 45th Chief of the Clan, Robert Lister MacNeil, a distinguished architect, returned from America, bought back Kisimul Castle and set about using his skills to restore it.
In 1960 he was able to hold a great Clan gathering in the completely restored Castle, which was attended by MacNeils from all over the world. On Robert Lister MacNeil’s death in 1970, his son, Iain Roderick MacNeil, Professor of Law at Cornell University, succeeded as 46th Chief of the MacNeils of Barra and continues the family interest in and care of Kisimul.
Exploring Castlebay Holiday Vacation Accommodation
- Castlebay Geolocation Latitude 56.9545° N Longitude -7.4866° W
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The Castle, said by some to have been started in 1035, by others to date from the early Middle Ages, has naturally gathered many legends, one of the most likely concerning the post-prandial custom when a trumpeter sounded a fanfare and proclaimed: ‘Hear, O ye people and listen, O ye nations the great MacNeil of Barra having finished his meal the princes of the earth may dine.’
This romantir and now living relic of the historic past is open to visitors on Saturday afternoons during the summer.
On the Scottish island of Barra, in the Outer Hebrides, the village of Castlebay is the most populous and most important area of the island's population. Castlebay is home to a primary and secondary school, as well as a hospital, a post office, a bank, and a variety of shops and other establishments.
This location is home to a ferry terminal, from which passengers can travel to and from Oban.
Find a vacation rental that is secluded and with breathtaking open views.
The settlement may be found on the south coast of the island, looking out over a bay that is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and is dominated by Kisimul Castle.
The Kisimul Castle, which is located on a rocky outcrop in the bay, gives Castlebay its name. Castlebay is also the primary ferry port for the island, and during the summer months, the Oban-bound Caledonian MacBrayne ship makes two trips a day to Castlebay from Oban.
The ferry operates with fewer departures and arrivals during the winter months.
In addition, there is a further boat that travels from Ardmhor on Barra to Eriskay, and there are also regular scheduled flights that depart from Glasgow and arrive in Eriskay.
The size of the Isle of Barra is around sixty square kilometres in total,
Benbecula is home to the well-known cockle sands and a one-of-a-kind airport that is located in the shallow bay of Traigh Mhr. This airport is the only one in the entire world that utilises the beach as a runway for regularly scheduled flights.
On the island of Barra, the hamlet of Brevig is located on the island's eastern shore, just five minutes by car from Castlebay.
Rum and Skye are visible on the horizon on days when the weather is clear.
Barra is the second-to-last inhabited island in the Western Isles archipelago, after Vatersay, to which it is connected by a causeway that was finished in 1991. Barra is a component of the archipelago that comprises the Western Isles.
The coastline of Barra is characterised by rocky coves that are separated by beautiful stretches of white sand beach. This region is home to some unique flora and fauna and features some breathtaking views.
The island is approximately eight miles long and five miles wide, and the primary road on the island does a complete loop around the entire island.
Discover the boats that are anchored at the local jetty.
From the main road, a number of side roads branch out in the direction of the island's dispersed townships. These townships feature a variety of tiny shops selling local crafts as well as eateries.
The majority of the island's essential services and establishments are located in Castlebay. These include a primary and secondary school, community centre (with a swimming pool), supermarket, post office, hospital, doctors' and dentists' surgeries, as well as a number of hotels and cafes, which are typically bustling with visitors during the warmer months of the year. Take in the stunning panorama of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean to the west from your room. Enjoy your time on the Isle of South Uist in a cottage that is located in South Boisdale.
You cannot help but pause and take in the expansive views as soon as you arrive at the cottage because they stretch across a tiny lochan all the way to the open sea in the distance.
The seating area in the front of the property is an excellent location from which to take in the lovely sunsets, which are on par with the very best seen anywhere in the world.
After spending the day touring the island, you can enjoy a cosy night in by curling up on the plush sofa in front of the blazing fire that is produced by the wood burning stove. Find a charcoal barbecue area where you can enjoy some food and a few drinks while relaxing with family and friends, taking in the magnificent views that are your backdrop. Find a drying rack, a heater, and a tumble dryer. Find lots of storage space for anything you may need on your days out, such as bikes, walking boots, and fishing gear. Find a drying rack. Find a drying rack. Find a drying rack. Find a drying rack. Find a drying rack. Find a drying rack. Find
The cottage has a door that leads to the sitting room, which has dual aspect windows enjoying views to the sea, a multifuel stove sat on a tiled hearth with tiled surround, a kitchen, and a double bedroom that is spacious and enjoying far-reaching views over the sea to the beach and hills beyond. The cottage is ideal for a romantic break for two, and it has a door that leads to the sitting room, which has dual aspect windows enjoying views to the sea.
