Getting To Know Isle Of Jura

The Isle of Jura extends for almost 28 miles in length being a maximum width of about 7 miles although at the Loch Tarbert inlet (see map alongside) this deceases to around one mile.

The north of the island (above Loch Tarbert) is scarcely populated. Even the road dies out around ten miles short of the headland although an ordinary car can negotiate the first six miles on a unsurfaced track.

For those able to get there perhaps on foot or bicycle you could see the Gulf of Corryvreckan lying between Jura and Scarba. This stretch of water is still shown on the British Royal Navy maps as being unnavigable due to a very strong Whirlpool well worth the site if you catch the tides right. George Orwell the writer of the book 1984 (written whilst living on Isle of Jura) nearly lost his life when on a fishing trip in these waters. (Incidentally Orwell used his real name Eric Blair and is still remembered by a number of people living on the Isle of Jura today.)

The present population of the isle is under 200 people with the largest population living in Craighouse on the east coast of the island. This village contains the church, the only shop and the Isle of Jura Scotch Whisky Distillery along with the Jura Hotel where Lairds and Ladies of Jura can claim a discount on their accommodation.

Jura is a very rugged island almost all of it being open moorland and peat bog with more recent conifer plantations. The most dominant scenery is of course the three Paps of Jura each having rounded peaks of over 700 metres high and can be seen no matter which way you approach the isle. (Each year there is an annual race to run all three peaks which several hundred taking part.)

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