Rubha Chàrnain    Self Catering Accommodation

(Gaelic, meaning "stony headland", the old name for what is now called Lower Bruernish)


The Cottage


View from the garden at high tide

 

If you are looking for a basic traditional cottage with rustic charm and seclusion at the shore of North Bay overlooking the Sea of the Hebrides, Rubha Chàrnain may be the place for you. It has seaside views from most windows and the surrounding land slopes gently down to the shore. At the bottom of the garden you can go rock fishing, launch your own kayak or just enjoy the calls of the seabirds. Rubha Chàrnain is on a quiet cul-de-sac in Lower Bruernish.

 

The cottage sleeps four and offers

  • Double bedroom overlooking North Bay
  • Twin bedroom with views to the North and the West
  • A spacious wood-lined living room with open fire and good-sized dining area
  • Bathroom with WC and bath
  • Additional WC
  • Fully equipped kitchen including cooker/oven/grill, washing machine, microwave and fridge
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Partial heating (coal fire and electric radiator in living area, electric radiators in the bedrooms)
  • Telephone available (on request)

The cottage has retained much of its old character and has a maritime feel. With no television you can enjoy dining, listening to music, reading or playing games by the open fire and are bound to have an unforgettable break from busy city life.



Double bedroom with raised bed to enjoy uninterrupted views across the entrance of North Bay and the Minch.
Lady Di's mother spent two summers in this cottage and it is believed that she slept in this very bed.


Twin bedroom with views to the North and West.
6 times a day you can catch a glimpse of the Eriskay ferry.



Dining Area in the living room


The wood-lined living room offers spectacular views across the entrance of North Bay. Many boats of the Barra fishing fleet sail by the cottage on their way to the fishing grounds and return in the evening.


There is nothing better than a good open fire when the wind is blowing outside.


What To Do

Walking

Walking in Barra is all about the beaches. Barra has beaches on an epic scale. White, fine sand, monster sand dunes, huge rolling Atlantic waves and miles and miles of it everywhere. It's a beachcomber's paradise, and you won't have to share it with big crowds. Bring a picnic and find your own perfect piece of Hebridean machair grass, or just pick a sand dune for the day.

From the cottage you can also walk along the crest of the hills from Ben Bheireasaigh (198 metres) to the island's highest mountain, Heabhal (383 metres). The hilltops give views over Vatersay and all Barra's outlying, deserted islands.

Fishing and Raking for Cockles

The cottage is located at the mouth of North Bay and all ships based in the north end of Barra sail past the garden twice a day. You can do rock fishing from the big rocks by the shore at the bottom of the garden. When the tide is out, Traigh Mhor (the beach by the Airport) is the perfect spot for raking for cockles. Rakes and buckets are in the cottage; just bring your own wellies.

Kayaking, Power Kiting, Boat trips, Cycling, Surfing

Barra is just the place for adventurous teenagers and active adults. You can take part in guided kayaking trips, try out Power Kiting or go on a charter boat trip and explore the archaeology and wildlife of the deserted islands south of Barra. Bicycles can be hired in Castlebay. Barra is also a paradise for experienced surfers. You'll need to bring your own board, though.

Golf

Britain's most westerly golf course is on Barra, 4 miles from Rubha Chàrnain cottage. This is a 2936 yard links course.

Wildlife

Keep an eye out for otters by the rocks at the end of the garden.

Barra has the seabirds that you might expect: razorbill, guillemot, kittiwake, shag, fulmar, common and Arctic tern, black guillemot, storm petrel, great skua, puffin, oystercatcher, common gull, herring gull, greater and lesser black backed gull. There are also corncrake, plovers, herons, and even yellow warblers.

Trivia

The cottage appeared briefly in the opening scene of 'Whisky Galore' (GB 1949). It featured extensively in Zach Rosenau's short film 'The Inaudible Crimes of Jasper Pidgeon' (GB/US 2009).

Windy Winter Weekend Specials

If you love storm watching, star gazing, are hardy and have a healthy appetite for adventure why not try the Hebrides in winter?

Barra is fully exposed to Atlantic gales in winter and is an excellent location for trying out if your outdoor clothing is really as water- and windproof as advertised in the shop.

Bruairnis is free from light pollution and on a clear night you can step out of the door and see the Milky Way.


Location

Rubha Chàrnain is 5 miles from the Barra airport and the Sound of Barra ferry. It is 8 miles from Castlebay, which is the island's main town and ferry port (for Oban). The cottage is also near the island bus route.

How to get to Barra

Barra is the southernmost island of the Outer Hebrides.

  • You can take the train or the bus from Glasgow to Oban. The journey takes about 3 hours.
  • From Oban, take the Caledonian MacBrayne car ferry to Castlebay. Castlebay is Barra's main port. The direct route takes just over 5 hours.

To go by aeroplane:

  • You can reach Barra from Glasgow in as little as an hour if you travel by plane. It is a truly unforgettable experience to fly to Barra as the plane lands on the only British airport which is washed over by the tide twice a day.

To get there from other Outer Hebridean islands:

  • The Sound of Barra ferry has six daily sailings and connects Barra and Eriskay.


Other Details

Heathbank Hotel is less than a mile from the cottage, and has a bar and a restaurant.

The cottage is suitable for children and has a substantial selection of buckets and spades. Note that the garden is unfenced, which means that from October until April animals can roam freely through it.

The cottage is non-smoking. Sorry, no pets are allowed.


Prices

Price from May - September (per week)    £300.00

Price from October - April (per week)    £250.00

Windy Winter Weekend Specials (from November till March (Friday - Monday)    £140.00

The cottage is open all year round.

Electricity and coal are included. Linen and towels are provided.

The renting week goes from Saturday 2 p.m. to the next Saturday 10 a.m. If you want different dates and if the cottage is not booked for the weeks before and after your stay, then please ask.

During the off-peak season (October through to March inclusive, but excluding the Christmas and New Year holidays), the cottage can be booked for as short or as long a period as you like.

To check availability please click here.


Address

Anke-Beate Stahl
1/4 Caledonian Crescent
Edinburgh EH11 2DB
Scotland, UK

Telephone:   +44 (0)131 337 5413

Email:  ankebeate@googlemail.com


External Links

IsleOfBarra.com

Caledonian MacBrayne Car Ferries

Isle of Barra Golf Course

Loganair Aeroplanes


ACCOMMODATION

WHAT TO SEE

WHAT TO DO

WHERE WE ARE