The Wildlife Map of the Hebrides

40. Triagh Mhor and Eoligarry, Barra

The large cockle strand of Traigh Mhor is Barras airport, served by daily flights linking Barra with Benbecula and Glasgow. The cockles here are particularly large and local people harvest them by hand. Until recently a company based in Sir Compton Mackenzie's old house at Suidheachan produced harl from cockleshells. The dunes and machair are mobile with spectacular erosion, which has been countered by the planting of marram grass and the erection of sandblown fencing. There is a self-guided walk around the machair: see www.WalkHebrides.com. In spring the Eoligarry machair has a famous and possibly unrivalled display of primroses.