Jura is ideal for walking and the visitor has almost unlimited freedom to walk almost everywhere and climb the Paps of Jura, visit the Wild west coast with it’s amazing wildlife or visit the Corryvreckan Whirlpool in the north. Jura Hotel runs Landrover trips from Craighouse to Kinuachdrach.Ĭraighouse seen from the Stone Pier Walking on Jura Especially with a strong westerly wind and upcoming tide the whirlpool is best visible. The Corryvreckan Whirlpool as it is called is caused by an underwater mountain reaching almost to the surface of the strait causing the whirlpool to activate when the tides change. Orwell had first visited the island in 1945 and had an almost fatal encounter in the Gulf of Corryvreckan that separates Jura from the smaller island of Scarba to the north. Barnhill – George Orwellīarnhill is also known for the cottage where Eric Blair, better known as George Orwell, lived from 1946-48 while writing his novel 1984. The road ends in the north of Jura, near Barnhill. On the opposite side of the Sound of Islay, the narrow strait with its fast currents, is Port Askaig Islay, a car and passenger ferry links both. The only road on the island, single track all the way, starts at the ferry terminal near Feolin. The west of the island is hard to access but offer some of the finest raised beaches in the world. The main settlement is Craighouse on the east coast, in fact almost all the people live on the south and east coast.

Jura is sparsely populated and is currently inhabited by a little over 200 people. Meeting any of these majestic animals is likely while peace, isolation and tranquility are other attractions of this remote and wild island.

Early writers speak of a few herds of deer numbering about 300, but the present day population is about 7,000. In Gaelic the word ‘diura’ itself means ‘tough, or durable’. The name Jura is believed to come from the Norse meaning ‘Deer Island’ although it is also said that Jura got it’s name from an earlier language.

Isle of jura varieties