During high tide, aircraft at this UK airport land on a beach and the runway disappears

Imagine an island that is accessible by air, where you might be surfing your first wave five minutes after arrival. This is a genuine place, not just a dream from far away. Located in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, the United Kingdom, Barra Airport, also called Barra Eoligarry Airport, is a unique and remarkable airport.

The Isle of Barra, which is home to around a thousand people, is known for its breathtaking scenery, which includes vast green fields, breathtaking white sand beaches, and historical scenery. The airport is one of the strangest and most fascinating sights to see, despite having many unique qualities and attractions.

This is due to the airport’s unpredictable nature. It sounds absurd, doesn’t it? This occurs as a result of the runway’s location directly on the shore. Cockle Strand has a beachfront landing strip. Aircraft land right here. The runway completely vanishes into the lake when the waves are large and powerful.

Even with this difficulty, planes arrive here every day; nevertheless, care must be taken to ensure that the aircraft lands when the runway is clear of water. As planes circle the airport until the waves stop coming up off the runway, there are sometimes delays.

Pilots must pay close attention to tidal changes in the departure and arrival zones, which is denoted by buoys that change with the tide, in order to ensure safe operations. The waves of the North Atlantic swallow the runways at high tide. On the other hand, this sandy airstrip is passable at low tide. Flight schedules fluctuate as a consequence of this natural cycle of ebb and flow, synchronizing with the sea’s cyclical rhythms.

Traveling to or from Barra is a fantastic trip. Pilots and visitors alike are drawn to the airport by its scenic surroundings and the breathtaking view of aircraft landing on the sandy runway. Because of its unmistakable beauty and attractiveness, Barra Airport was named the world’s greatest airport approach in 2011. In addition, it is the world’s only beach airport.