Someone is upsetting the locals on Barra...

I know a good proportion of the locals but often not by name, there are about 400 souls in the village itself and a further 600 in the surrounding villages served by the local medical centre, going to the doctor's is great... I always go early because the waiting room has a fantastic social atmosphere and we all catch up on the local goings-on. I've probably met Mr. Crooks at some time, there was a large, whiskery, slightly crusty fellow with a sort of motorised floating platform that would shuttle cargo around the harbour area as necessary while checking his lobster pots... he would from time to time help out with the volunteer forestry maintenance group to which we subscribed.

The photo was scanned from a SYHA publication "Northern Highlands Guide" with the Achmelvich photo alongside Achininver hostel on page 43. Scan of the flattened-out covers below. I'd have loved to travel the west coast in the '50's, in those days many communities were kept afloat (Ho Ho) by the periodic visits of the coastal steamer because the roads were so poor, thin, rough and tricky. We see remnants of them as we drive south on the A835 / 837 and wonder how folks managed. It would have been a truly wild and remote place in those days.

Thanks for the many positive vibes by the way gang ... appreciated.

Mike, Lochinver.

SYHA booklet (Custom).jpg click to enlarge
 
I'll be heading that way a week on Sunday, nice to know a bit of history. Thanks
 
Wully said:
Barra is a very small island and the locals are very twitchy about changes and strangers very polite and hospitable but you can here them whispering in Gaelic when you turn away. Can be a bit like a time warp all you have to do to get round this is go into castle bay hotel and buy the two old guys Sitting at the bar a dram and you can park where you want they would let you camp on top of the castle if you bought a double. and if you happen to have a bottle then you’ll wake up in the morning with mohrag a very nice girl 😜
Click to expand...

I wonder how it would translate in Gaelic?
 
Thanks for the education , they probably did not know the harm they are doing . I can imagine the damage that would be done if it got bogged and had to be recoverd .
 
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We visited Harris in 2016. There are signs everywhere asking you not to park on these places. There are quite a few parking spots, with facilities, so there is no real need to be where this van is. Based on the info on here obv!
 
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