MV Loch Àlainn
My second day on Barra was another wonderful day.
Soon after breakfast – with a day of sunshine forecast – I set off to cycle to Eriskay/Eiriosgaigh. It is the next inhabited island (pop 190) as you go north from Barra. Getting there involves a 40 minute ferry trip as well as cycling to the other end of Barra.
Picnic Spot
It was a fantastic . Not far from the ferry terminal on Eriskay I found the perfect picnic spot. It is the most I’ve enjoyed a supermarket sandwich in a along time. Leaving aside enjoying the food, it gave me 30 minutes to appreciate the scenery, the sunshine, the tranquility, the fresh air and the exercise.
Eriskay
I was on Eriskay for less than an hour. I thought about carrying on to see some more of the island after lunch, but my legs were starting to get tired, and so I just went back to catch the next ferry.
Eriskay Ferry Terminal
On my way north to the ferry terminal at Ardmhòr I took the road which follows the east side of Barra and on the way back I took the road along the west coast. I am glad I chose do do it that way – the two coasts are different. The east is rockier and the west has more machair and beaches.
Tràigh Hamara, Barra
I reckon I cycled about 19 miles (30 km) – it was fun, but tough too. I had only one long, steep hill to deal with, but there’s no such thing as “flat” on Barra. The roads undulate constantly.
Oh, and guess who managed to forget to bring not only sunscreen, but insect repellent too.
ⓒ iain taylor, 2018 🏴