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The Isle of Barra is a bit too wee and rocky for a standard airport. But then again, who wants standard? Port-adhair Bharraigh is a hebridean transport hub and the only one in the world where scheduled flights use a tidal beach for a runway. That’s why landing and taking off here is such an iconic, beautiful and surreal experience. Barra to a tee.
Flying in, you’ll depart from Glasgow on an appropriately named Viking DHC-6, famed for its short take off abilities. Just a short hop, your 140 mile flight path will cruise over the peerless Loch Lomond and the magnificent Isle of Mull before you begin your descent to Barra Airport. With the machair covered moors to your left and the shallow bay of Traigh Mhor to your right, you’ll touch down on a 2 mile long, white sand wonderland. Regularly voted the top airport approach on the planet, when you disembark you might even notice the windsock flying. That’s there to let cockle pickers know the beach is currently in airplane mode. Until the tide comes in that is.
So if you’re planning a holiday to the Outer Hebrides, why not tick the Barra beach landing off your bucket list? It’s an arrival and departure you’ll never, ever forget.
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