Home   Update the site   Preserved & Stored Aircraft in Western Isles   Barra Airport   Benbecula Airport   Stornaway Airport

Aircraft Spotting at Western Isles' Airfields and Airports

Spotting locations, viewing areas and advice on access for airports and airfields in Western Isles. Use the hotlinks above or scroll down for spotting information on spotting locations, airfield hangar access, aviation museums, preserved aircraft. Plus all the information has been plotted as Points of Interest and can be downloaded to your SatNavs and Google Earth to make planning your spotting trips abroad so much easier and helping you log many more


Spotting in the UK v1.5 out now
Planespotting at the UK's Airports and Airfields has been plotted on Google Earth and can be uploaded to your SatNav - click to download
Over 620 UK airports plus 170+ preserved and stored aircraft - their locations, viewing spots, hotels and preserved aircraft can be seen on detailed satellite images, making planning your spotting trip exceptionally easy. All these spotting points of interest can be uploaded to your SatNav to give you another excellent resource to make your trip that much easier and more enjoyable. Please read the Download Instructions for example screenshots and further details

PRESERVED & STORED AIRCRAFT IN WESTERN ISLES - its location is marked in the Spotting in the UK download

  • JX273 Catalina wreckage lies on the side of Heishavel Beag with a memorial to the crew nearby. It's easily visible from the Vatersay-Uidh coastal road and photographs are also easy just take care
    Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report



    BARRA AIRPORT

    Spotting Info
    On the coastal road between Northbay and Eolaigearraidh, the runway is on the sand and therefore landings only take place when the tide is furthest out. The airport becomes active when the wind socks are erected and a strobe light flashes from the control tower; otherwise you are free to walk on the beach i.e. the apron and runways. No access is permitted to the sand when the socks are flying though you are free to stand on the machair (sandy grass). Three runways marked with orange topped posts at each end. Parking is free and the terminal has a cafe that is open for much of the day. Photography is best from the south of the bay. To get landing photographs, stand on the bank to the left (north) of the terminal behind the 'No Access past this point' signs. Leaning on them to keep the camera steady is not a problem. No residents and only a few daily flights so check the Barra Airport website for arrival times. The Twin Otter flies to and from Barra, Glasgow and Benbecula throughout the day.



    BENBECULA AIRPORT

    Spotting Info
    Photography is available through the fence by the terminal building and there is free parking. A spot is available on a small grassy hill overlooking the shoreline, opposite the MoD houses, with a good view of the end of the main runway. It is understood that there is a spot on the golf course at the far end of the main runway. The golf course is reached by taking the road towards North Uist. Runways change very quickly. Only a few daily flights so check the Benbecula Airport website for arrival times. Roundtrip flights to and from Barra, Glasgow and Stornaway throughout the day.
    Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report



    STORNAWAY AIRPORT

    Spotting Info
    Photography at the apron is possible through the fence and from the gate to the Tower, otherwise you are mostly shooting into the sun. The taxiway comes close to the main car park, which is free, and there are views from either side of the terminal. No access is possible to the hangar where the Coastguard S-96s operate. They can be seen across the bay, from the other side of the airport at Aird Thunga to the north. Several daily flights, mostly in the afternoon and evenings so check the Stornaway Airport website for arrival times. A freight flight also operates in the afternoon.

    •  
       

    Send an Update   Subscribe to Newsletter   Email Group   Affiliates  
    A very big THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to this site. Credits   Privacy Policy   Back to Top   Home
    NOTE: This site in no way gives permission to enter any airfield or private property and stresses permission should always be sought before visiting any airfield.
    © Copyright 1997-2023 C.Blackmun. If any information from this site is to be used in any way, in any form of communication, be it printed or electronic, then permission must be requested and granted by me, prior to publication. You are welcome to use the information on trips but credit MUST be given to me, as I have done to all who have contributed. If you can update or add to any of the airport spotting locations please contact me. This site exists because the very social planespotting hobby is one of sharing and, I hope, your planespotting trips, whether you are a civil planespotter, a military aircraft spotter, or both, will benefit greatly from the spotting locations and spotting information contained within. My site contains airport spotting locations and airport spotting hotels and rooms at airfields and airports in the UK, Europe, USA, Asia, North America, South America, Oceana and Africa.