Old Photographs Kisimul Castle Castlebay Barra Scotland

Old photograph of Kisimul Castle, Castlebay, Island of Barra, Scotland. The earliest documentary record of Kisimul Castle dates from the mid 16th century. As Kisimul is completely surrounded by the sea, it can only be reached by boat making the fortification impregnable but it has its own fresh water wells. Kisimul was abandoned in 1838 when the island was sold, and the castle's condition deteriorated. Some of its stone was used as ballast for fishing vessels, and some even ended up as paving in Glasgow. The remains of the castle, along with most of the island of Barra, were purchased by the chief of Clan MacNeill in 1937, who made efforts at restoration. In 2001 the castle was leased by the chief of Clan MacNeil to Historic Scotland for 1000 years for the annual sum of £1 and a bottle of whisky.

Old photograph of Kisimul Castle, Castlebay, Island of Barra, Scotland.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Old Photograph Island Of Barra Scotland

Old photograph of Island of Barra, Scotland. An old photograph of herring fishing boats at Castlebay.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.

Photographs Island Of Barra Scotland

Photograph of Island of Barra, Scotland.


Photograph of Island of Barra, Scotland.


Photograph of Island of Barra, Scotland.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.

Old Photograph Kisimul Castle Scotland

Old photograph of Kisimul Castle, Island of Barra, Scotland. The earliest documentary record of Kisimul Castle dates from the mid 16th century. As Kisimul is completely surrounded by the sea, it can only be reached by boat making the fortification impregnable but it has its own fresh water wells. Kisimul was abandoned in 1838 when the island was sold, and the castle's condition deteriorated. Some of its stone was used as ballast for fishing vessels, and some even ended up as paving in Glasgow. The remains of the castle, along with most of the island of Barra, were purchased by the chief of Clan MacNeill in 1937, who made efforts at restoration. In 2001 the castle was leased by the chief of Clan MacNeil to Historic Scotland for 1000 years for the annual sum of £1 and a bottle of whisky.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.

Street View Eoligarry Beach Scotland

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Street view of one of the beaches at Eoligarry, Isle of Barra, Scotland. The beaches on the Isle of Barra are among the best in Great Britain.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

Street View Barra Airport Scotland

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Street view of Barra airport, Isle of Barra, Scotland. Located near Northbay the airport uses the beach called An Tràigh Mhòr, in English; The Big Beach, as a runway. Planes can only land and take off at low tide meaning that the timetable varies. Barra's airport is the only airport in the world to have scheduled flights landing on a beach.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.