FAQs

Great Bernera offers a variety of walking trails that showcase our island’s natural beauty and historical sites. Check out our Walks page for a selection of some of the more notable walks.

At approximately 5 miles long and 3 miles wide, Great Bernera contains the delights of the Hebrides in microcosm. We have wonderful scenery and wildlife, great walks, standing stones and brochs, a beautiful beach with its own Iron Age House and lots more. This page gives a selection of some of the more popular things to see and do in Bernera.

The Community Centre is managed and maintained by the Bernera Community Association (BCA)

The BCA committee meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm in the upstairs office at the Hall. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Gym membership is available to members of the BCA. An induction session is provided for new members. To enquire about joining the Gym, please send an email to berneraca@gmail.com.

To enquire about booking the Main Hall or any other rooms in the Community Centre, please send an email to berneraca@gmail.com.

No, the Community Hall is not open on Sundays.

No, we also have a Volunteers Group for anyone who would prefer not to join the committee but would like to help out occasionally. Please email us if you wish to be added to this group.

Being a member of the BCA entitles you to join the Gym and receive discounted rates on room bookings. Check the BCA page for current membership rates and to sign up.

The Bernera Community Council (BCC) is always looking for ideas for community projects. If you have suggestions for projects that may benefit the community, the BCC would love to hear from you. You can contact them at berneracomcouncil@gmail.com.

The Great Bernera Community Development Trust (GBCDT) was formed in 2013 with the purpose of pursuing a Community Buyout of the island. For the latest updates on the Buyout, check out the minutes of our meetings on the GBCDT page.

There are four main community groups in Bernera: the Community Association takes care of (among other things) the Community Centre; the Community Council is the link between the community and public authorities; the Development Trust is concerned with the Estate Buyout and the economic and social development of the island; and the Historical Society runs the Museum in Breaclete and the Iron Age House in Bosta. You can find out more about these groups via our Community page.

Our cosy Community Café serves hot soup, sandwiches, homebaking and hot drinks, while the Shop offers basic essentials, plus a range of local arts & crafts and Great Bernera merchandise. For the current opening times, check out our Food & Drink page.

There are public toilets at Bosta Beach, at the playpark in Breaclete and at Kirkibost pier. The toilets in the Community Centre are available to passersby for a small donation (free for café customers, museum visitors and centre users). There are showers in the Community Centre. Use of these showers can be arranged on request by emailing berneraca@gmail.com. There is also a toilet and shower block at Kirkibost pier for use by patrons of the Campervan Hookups and Pontoons.

An industrial washing machine and dryer, with a 20kg load capacity, are located in the Facilities Building at Kirkibost Pier. To enquire about using the laundry facilities, send an email to dubhthob@gmail.com.

There are two public defibrillators available in Bernera: one hanging on the wall of the school building in Breaclete, and one at 5a Earshader. The defibrillators are provided by lucky2behere.org and some local residents have volunteered to periodically check that the batteries are in working order. None of the community groups are officially responsible for their upkeep and maintenance.

If there is a problem with the fuel pumps, please send an email to berneraca@gmail.com.

The price displayed on the fuel pumps reflects the price on the day the fuel was purchased from Highland Fuels. Due to the overhead and maintenance costs, it is vital that the fuel pumps are regularly used to keep this a viable service for the community.

Check out our Yellow Pages. If you are (or you know someone who is) running a business in Bernera and would like to be added to the Yellow Pages, please send your details to web@greatbernera.org.

Please report any incidences of rubbish being dumped to the Bernera Community Council at berneracomcouncil@gmail.com.