Barra is situated at the southern end of the Western Isles and is separated from South Uist by the Sound of Barra. The main Calmac ferry links Castlebay with Oban and Lochboisdale, while there is a smaller car ferry from Eriskay, now connected to South Uist by a causeway, to Ardmhor in the north of Barra. Air services link Barra with Glasgow and Benbecula. Barra has a string of smaller islands to the north east and to the south.

Ordnance Survey Pathfinder (1:10,000) sheets 247 and 260, Landranger (1:50,000) sheet 31 and Admiralty charts 2769, 2770 and 1796 all cover Barra and its surrounding islands.