Things to do on Barra when it's raining

[shewhomust]

• Drive out to the airport: the road - like so many Hebridean roads - is single track with passing places, and it skirts Tràigh Mhòr, the Big Strand, the beach which is also the airport's runway:
  
  
  
  
  
  and then you can have coffee and a cranberry scone in the airport café.



• You can read about the tragic story of the Clearances, and what happened to the village of Balnabodach - and then you can try to spot the site as you drive round the road that girdles the island. If the rain eased up, you could maybe stop and see whether you could locate the remains, but it doesn't, so maybe you don't.



• You could visit Dualchas, the Heritage Centre, and learn many more sad stories about the history of Barra and smaller islands like Mingaulay, and the misdeeds of the landowners - and the odd more cheeful item, like a book of music which once belonged at Eoligarry House, and contains such songs as the Skye Water Kelpie's Lullaby (children, do not listen when the water kelpie sings you a lullaby).



• After this, you could restore yourself with more coffee! more cake! (I recommend the chocolate and peanut butter brownies) and staring out of the window to see if it's brightening up at all - I think it is...
  
  
  
  
  
  Macroon's Tearoom has only been open three days, and it's quite well hidden, in the Post Office, so we were pleased to have been tipped off about it.



• And by now perhaps you might risk the boat trip out to Kisimul Castle - it'll be worth it:
  
  
  

Comments

[karinmollberg.livejournal.com]

I wish you would wish to join theboringclub but as I happen to know, how this is not your wish; I wish to link here from there...

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry that my wishes are so unsatisfactory - but it's a public post, you are always welcome to link (and I am flattered, though bewildered, that you wish to do so).

[karinmollberg.livejournal.com]

As well you should be but on the other hand, that way you need not fear the results like the careless rest of us; a very wise way of handling the case of the castle, for instance: you sit and watch it from afar, want maybe to go maybe not but don't, so even as a dream it stays intact despite wishful thinking that might have been as disappointing as a crumbling Real Life visit. I think&thank you.

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

::squees with vicarious squees::

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

I thought of you in the post I've just written - you'll know why when you read it!

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

I think I know. >;->

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Oh, phooey - I want a castle built in the middle of the water!

(Also, you totally need to teach sovay the Skye Water Kelpie Song, I am just sayin.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

I want a castle built in the middle of the water!

Your exiled soul must be yearning for sampness, then - it was very, very damp.

But it has a charming internal courtyard:

(https://www.flickr.com/photos/she_who_must/17621093064)

Also, you totally need to teach sovay the Skye Water Kelpie Song...

durham_rambler found this review of a 1998 recording (http://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/land-of-hearts-desire) which makes me think that it may be closer to Victorian parlour song than I am comfortable with, but that if anyone can make it work, my money's on sovay!

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking that it would be very damp! )Also wondering about how it operates.)

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

It is a very, very short boat trip from harbour.

Dr Johnson, travelling in the Western Isles, likewise wondered why the castles were all built on rocks at the edge of the water...

Wishful Thinking

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User karinmollberg referenced to your post from Wishful Thinking (http://theboringclub.livejournal.com/157897.html) saying: [...] DIY; handbook here&thankyou http://shewhomust.livejournal.com/481174.html [...]