Barra is one of the two Southernmost inhabited islands of the Outer Hebrides, being approximately 8 miles long and 5 miles across.

The main port and focus of population on Barra is Castlebay, which is on the South of the island.

The centre of the island is dominated by hills with most of the crofts and crofting townships being situated either along the coasts or in glens, where these occur.

The West and North of Barra has areas of low lying land, characterised by grasslands, sand dunes and shellsand beaches.