We spent $800 to explore a remote Scottish island that was nearly empty, and it was worth every penny to avoid other tourists

23.10.2023 - 17:51 / insider.com

In my opinion, there's nothing more annoying when traveling than other tourists. 

That may sound harsh, but hear me out: When was the last time you took a photo at a visitor attraction without being photo-bombed? Or when was the last time you enjoyed a flight without fellow passengers invading your personal space?

When I visited the nearly-empty Isle of Barra with my partner in September, we didn't have these problems. 

Barra is a remote western island in Scotland's Outer Hebrides that's known for its beautiful white sandy beaches. It also has the only airport in the world that uses the beach as a runway.

We spent around $800 on flights and accommodation during the trip, which was right before Barra's offseason. It was worth every penny for three major reasons.

From our home in Glasgow, Barra is accessible via ferry from Oban, which takes just under five hours, or by plane, which takes just over one hour from Glasgow Airport.

We opted for a Loganair flight, which cost £164, or around $199, per ticket for a round trip. 

The plane was tiny — there were only 13 passengers — and cramped. There was no bathroom, no overhead lockers, and no tray tables. But the views were absolutely spectacular, especially as we landed on the beach. 

We heard the splash of the water against the wheels of the plane as we touched down on the runway. It was unlike any flight I've ever been on, and one I'll never forget.

We stayed at the Isle of Barra Beach Hotel, a family-run establishment that overlooks Tangasdale Beach on the west of the island. Our sea-view room cost £350, or around $426, for two nights.

There were three other couples staying on the first night, and two of them had been on the same flight we were on from Glasgow. But they all checked out the following day, and a staff member informed my partner and me that we were the final guests before the hotel closed for the offseason. 

We had the entire hotel to ourselves. We got to know the staff, and being the only customers in the hotel's restaurant made us feel like VIPs. 

Although I'd likely struggle to live on a small island without much social interaction, I found it highly enjoyable for the purposes of this trip. I left feeling rested with my social battery having been recharged.

I was most looking forward to exploring Barra's white sandy beaches, which are so beautiful they have been compared to the Caribbean. 

Every time we visited a beach, my partner and I were the only people there. We had stretches of seemingly untouched sand and turquoise water to ourselves, with nobody around to photobomb. I couldn't believe it; this was one of the most beautiful places I'd ever visited, and it felt like it belonged to us.

We encountered more people when we visited the