Photographs of Dr Calum Bartlett: 1971 – Barra, Mingulay, Hellisay & Gighay

After my father’s photos of Barra in 1969 and 1970 and Mingulay, also 1970 we move on to 1971.

My Dad had a boat now and we took regular trips to the islands that surround Barra. Here are my brothers Calum-Iain and Sam rowing the boat – it did have an engine, but if (when) the engine broke down a slow row home was needed. I don’t know if that’s why they are at the oars in this photo or not…they look pretty happy which makes me think the engine is fine just not in use!

Here we are on the islands of Hellisay and Gighay. Tom has his yellow life jacket on as he points his toy gun. That’s me with the blonde hair.

As in 1970, a trip to Mingulay, this time just ourselves in my Dad’s boat. Here’s my brother Sam.

I love this photo, I’m not sure who the lone figure is, one of my brothers anyway.

Back on Barra. Sam had his friend Pete Neame stay with us on this holiday.

My brother Michael and our cousin Norman.

Our red mini-bus parked up at the beach. That’s how so many of us could travel up to Barra. Mum, in the yellow sweater trying to read while we play all around her.

This was one of the Hebridean Cottage Holidays cottages at Brevig, with the highest peak on Barra, Heaval, behind.

And this one on the right at Leanish.

Here’s Harbour Cottage at Earsary (or Ault as we always call it). This is the cottage we stayed at in 1971.

There were so many of us that we used my Dad’s old army bell-tent for the boys to sleep in! The roofless cottage on the other side of the bay has since been done up and is now called South Bank. These are now the only two cottages still owned and available to rent by Hebridean Cottage Holidays, set up by Dad, these days run by my brother Tom.

This old croft still had a roof a little entrance way in 1971. These days it is just four walls. Family friend, James MacCrae found and old Gaelic bible in this house.

A walk up the river Ault, the cottage getting smaller all the time….

My Dad, he obviously entrusted Calum Iain with the camera.

It was Dad’s birthday whenever we were on Barra. Someone had given him this little outfit to dress up his whisky bottle. He rested it on the boat engine for a photo shoot!