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The
island of Jura, population about 175, lies to the west of the north of the Mull of
Kintyre and to the north of Islay. It is a large sparsely
populated island with only one village, Craighouse. It is famous
for its wide open wild spaces and of course whisky, hunting and
its three main mountains known as the Paps of Jura. The island
is almost cut into two separate islands by Loch Tarbert which
cuts its way from the west almost all the way to the east.
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Until
recently the trip from Jura to the mainland took three hours
despite it being only a few miles off the coast. Travellers
used to go from Jura to Islay across the Sound of Islay and
then get a boat from there to Kinnacraig on the Mull of
Kintyre.. This is still the case for vehicles. However there
is now a service which takes passengers from Craighouse on
Jura to Tayvallich Loch
Sween on the Knapdale peninsula, a journey of only one hour.
Currently this service only runs in the summer months you
can check the
timetables by clicking here. |
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The ferry
to Islay runs from Feolin on the Sound of Islay to Port Askaig.
Feolin is not a village nor even has houses and is about a
twenty minute journey by car to the the only village which is
Craighouse.
The
distillery on the island is a great place to visit and produces
the world famous Isle of Jura whisky, a malt to remember. The
distillery is the main complex in the village of Craighouse.
There is also a hotel and a shop plus a few houses a pier and
fantastic views everywhere. The bay here is very popular
with passing yachts who stop off to visit the distillery and the
restaurant and pub at the Jura hotel.
For those
visiting the island for hill walking, then the Paps of Jura not
only provide a great walk but also unrivalled views of this part
of Scotland. The highest of the Paps is Beinn Shiantaidh which
is 2,477 feet tall not one of Scotland's 284 Munros (mountains
over 3,000 feet) nor one of the country's 220 Corbetts (over
2500 feet) however despite that this mountain and its two
cousins, Beinn an Oir (2571 feet) and Beinn a'Chaolais (2407
feet) provide an excellent climb particularly as you will be
starting from sea level.
It would
not be right to mention Jura and not mention George Orwell. This
famous writer stayed on Jura at the north of the Island when he
wrote 1984. He stayed at a cottage called Barnhill which
overlooks another famous icon. The corryvrekan whirlpool. The
second largest tidal phenomenon in the northern hemisphere.
Jura also
has a reputation for hunting and fishing. Considering the size
and wilderness areas of this island it is not surprising. There
are huge herds of deer and many, many lochs for fly fishing.
Isle of Jura, Craighouse, and Paps of
Jura, Argyll, Scotland
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