Tràigh Mhòr — Gaelic for "big beach" — is a three-mile expanse of flat tidal sand at the north end of Barra that doubles as the runway for Barra Airport. It is the only scheduled airport in the world to operate from a beach. When the tide is out, the windsock goes up, the fire trucks roll into position, and a small Twin Otter from Glasgow taxis along the wet sand.
When no flights are due, the beach is open to the public — wonderful for walking, cockle-picking (the local trade), and watching gannets dive offshore. A small café-restaurant at the terminal, on the dunes above, serves seafood with one of the more entertaining views in Scottish aviation.