THE ISLE OF BARRA

here is always something thrilling about watching the far-off peaks of Barra and neighbouring South Uist gradually solidifying into recognisable landscapes as the distant land is approached. Aboard the charter Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42i, , we played a guessing game of which mirage was which island until Barra’s 295m Grianan summit was identified. Perched near the southernmost end of the 100-mile-long Outer Hebrides chain, Barra has long been famed for its beauty. Adorned with white beaches, lonely moors, isolated lochans and soaring hills, the island offers a great centre from which to explore this remote part of Scotland. Its main harbour, Castlebay,