Hello again. This issue of the Laird of Isle of Jura Newsletter brings you news about some new houses being built on the Isle of Jura along with a new ambulance, Arthur retires (who is Arthur? read on!) and the mysterious missing Jura Skull and bones.

News for March/April 2005

Isle of Jura Gifts

Isle of Jura Gifts is now online. We have a wide selection of books and gifts from the island and hope to expand our range shortly. Find us at www.isleofjuragifts.com

New houses on Isle of Jura

It is amazing the number of new houses that have been built, are being built or are planned to be built in such a small community ( Population about 170). At last count there are about 20 with over 50% of them being used or planned to be used as permanent residencies. It is also good to see the number of younger folk who are involved in this building frenzy. Don’t worry, though. In no way can this be seen as over development on such a sparsely populated island!

New ambulance for the Isle of Jura

The Isle of Jura is to get its own island based ambulance through the Scottish Community Ambulance Initiative. Support has come from all areas with free ferry travel being supplied by the ferry companies and a years supply of fuel donated by a local distributor. All that remains to be done is to train the volunteer crew in time for the ambulances arrival.

Arthur retires

After 36 years of plying the sound between Isle of Jura and Islay on the ferry, Arthur has finally hung up his skippers cap. He will be sorely missed and a party was held for him in the village hall in March.

The Lairds View

I will be back on Isle of Jura again at the end of the month visiting relatives and hopefully catching a trout or 2! Surely the weather will cooperate this time and I will get some nice pictures for the web site and newsletters.

The picnic table will be put into place and the bracken cut back so that any of you visiting Lairds or Ladies can fully enjoy the fine views.

I would be interested to here from anyone planning to visit this summer. Don’t forget to quote your 10% discount voucher if you are booking into the hotel!

Stories from Isle of Jura

For many years a skull and 2 limb bones sat on a rock protected by an overhang near the shore at Glengarrisdale on the west coast of the Isle of Jura. It is believed they were turned up when ploughing and could have belonged to the victim of a long ago massacre, as the skull had a slash in it which could have been made by a sword. Sadly they are no longer there.

Next time I will report on the annual Fell race and hopefully have these promised pictures!

Slainte David

Laird of Jura newsletter no.7

Welcome to your Laird of Isle of Jura newsletter number 7. In this issue we bring you an update on the new year celebrations, new rainfall records set for wet and dry months in 2005, read about the hassle being caused by wild deer and goats in the village

News for January/February 06

Jura’s own band, Pete Smoke and the Roaches, helped blast Jura into 2006 with a storming set in the hall “after the bells”. The celebrations began with a ceilidh, led by Graham Rozga on the accordion, then it was time for some good old rock and/or roll with the Roaches! These boys came together by accident when a band due to play at the music festival in September cancelled at the last minute. They have since gone from strength to strength and have just completed a recent world tour of the neighbouring Isle of Islay! Try and catch them when you visit your Jura estate.

Rainfall for 2005

Rainfall records have been kept at Craighouse on Jura since 1983, and are also kept for the Paps, Inver and Lealt. It is amazing the difference some months between Inver and Craighouse, only about 5 or 6 miles apart as the crow flies, but separated by the Paps. For example, in May 2005 152mm fell on Craighouse while only 107.5mm fell on Inver. This can be attributed to the Paps drawing in the clouds which then dump their rain on the hills and on Craighouse, further to the east. Overall, the total rainfall for the year was slightly below average at Craighouse with July being the driest on record, and May being abnormally wet. (Just ask the fell runners!)

Deer and goats

These are becoming a pest in Craighouse doing lots of damage to gardens. In fact, my mother’s vegetable patch was recently stripped bare by a marauding stag!

Strange happenings on Jura

There have been quite a few instances of ghosts being seen on Jura. Here are some of them. During the 1980’s, several people reported seeing the headlights of a car approaching along the islands only single track road. Having pulled into a passing place to let the car past, nothing has appeared. There was no turn off between them and where they saw the car. The farmhouse at Lagg is reputed to be haunted by a poltergeist. It is rumoured that a past occupant used to take up a cup of tea to the room the ghost inhabited to quieten him down! Not far from Lagg, at the deserted house of Corrynahera, several people claim to have seen a face at the window on passing by. The ghost of a young lady was reportedly seen in Corran house by a doctor who was staying there. It is known that a young girl drowned whilst crossing the Corran river many years ago. A very reputable witness watched a strange creature swimming off Jura for several minutes back in the 1960s or 70s. His account was published in a book about Scottish sea monsters. Don’t forget to visit www.isleofjuragifts.com where you can find books featuring more interesting stories about Jura’s past. Until next time, Slainte David

Laird of Jura newsletter no.6 December 2005

Welcome to your Laird of Jura newsletter. In this December 2005 issue I will be covering the New Jura Care Centre, plans to improve tourism (so you have even more to see when you visit your Scottish Estate) and more about the island history.

Jura Care Centre

The construction of a new 6 unit progressive care centre has begun. This £1.8 million project will enable older people to remain on the island during a period of their life when their need for support increases. At the moment, the only place such people can go is on the neighbouring island of Islay. In addition to the centre, 2 affordable rented houses will be constructed on the site along with a roads and infrastructure package to allow the future construction of 4 further housing units. The care centre project has been in the pipeline for about 10 years and it is good to see all the directors’ hard work finally coming to fruition.

Tourism

There is now a new full colour leaflet about Jura including an accommodation insert aimed at promoting the island to potential visitors. If you would like a copy please drop me an email via www.isleofjuragifts.com and I will see what I can do. There are also plans for interpretation cairns to be set up throughout the island.

Jura History

An Carn The village is about 2 miles north of Lealt, at the north end of the island, on a bluff overlooking the sea. It can be reached by proceeding beyond ‘road end’ for about 1 mile until you reach the place that used to be called ‘Old Stables’. From here you can travel west to Glengarrisdale or east to An Carn which is about 1 mile from the road over tussocky grass which makes for difficult walking. The ruins of the buildings are clearly seen as the stone has not been taken to be used elsewhere as has happened in other deserted villages such as Barnhill. The distance from the road has saved the ruins of the 8 structures which made up the village. We know very little about this village. It does not appear on any of the census records so we can assume that the village was abandoned before the first census of 1841. It does, however, appear on some early maps. On Pont’s map of 1590 it appears as Karn and on later maps as Cairns. Associated with the village and across the stream to the south is the remains of a corn drying kiln - now in the edge of a forest plantation - and lazibeds show evidence of a fair amount of cultivation between the village and the stream. To the N E of the village there is a small bay which is one of the few places where a boat could be landed between Ardlussa and Kinuachdrach. At the head of this bay is a cave which was excavated by John Mercer and in which he found items of a late medieval date. These include a medieval arrow head and a pair of iron shears. Associated with the village on its western side are 9 separate groups of cup marks. This is the largest group of cup markings to be found on Jura so far. The reason for cup markings and their significance is not known.

Lairds View

Looking south from the Lairds View on a sunny summers day.

Isle of Jura Gifts

We now have some new lines including an Isle of Jura jigsaw. There is the possibility of having a Laird of Jura jigsaw made if there is enough interest. Please visit www.isleofjuragifts.com for a browse and email us if you are interested. It only remains for me to wish all you Lairds and Ladies a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Slainthe David

Isle of Jura newsletter October 2004

Welcome to your Isle of Jura newsletter. In this issue I am bringing you news of the Isle of Jura Music festival, Isle of Jura 365 : The Landscape Photographic Exhibition, and a poem on Farewell to Jura written in 1871.

Isle of Jura Music Festival 2004

The annual Isle of Jura music festival took place on the last weekend in September. This is now arguably the biggest event in the Jura calendar, attracting visitor numbers that more than double the population for the weekend.

This is no doubt due to the musical talent on display - ranging from the “locals” concert on the Friday night through to the main concert and dance on the Saturday, the numerous sessions, pipers, fiddlers, Gaelic singers, a jazz band, a bit of Irish/country and western and even a samba band (that managed to collapse the stage in the field!) At one point on Saturday night this author counted no fewer than 5 different places to go to hear music. Not bad for a wee island like Jura!

This year’s headline act at the main concert on Saturday night was the Michael McGoldrick Band. Supported by accomplished musicians there ain’t nothing Michael can’t do with a flute. Brilliant!

Meanwhile, up in the hotel bar the Gillespie brothers had them dancing on the tables with their pipes and accordion. Then it was the Jimmy Shandrix Experince that had us dancing in the hall until 3 am!

A few sore heads on the Sunday but it was on with the show! The Islay Pipe Band, the Jazz band (who also played in the church), singers and Gaorsach with their dancing display. Finally, the children put on a play with masks and shadow puppets in which Buie the Dwarf put paid to the wicked witch of Beinn an Oir (one of the Paps).

The bar remained packed for the rest of the night with a few game musicians battling on, but most of us by this time were partied out!

If you are interested in coming to Isle of Jura for the festival, it is held over the last weekend in September (a traditional Glasgow holiday weekend).

Accommodation books up very early but camping is available in the field in front of the Jura hotel. Please be warned, the place can be very busy.

Isle of Jura 365 : The Landscape Photographic Exhibition

A 3 year photographic project, carried out on Jura by Dr Gary Mckay from the USA, captured some 46,000 raw images in every season. The focus of the project was to interpret Gaelic place names within the landscape, and to capture them according to their translations. A selection of these images will be displayed at various locations on Jura, Islay and the mainland over the coming months. Go to www.theisleofjura.co.uk for further information on the exhibition and the island.

Isle of Jura Stories from the past

This month a poem, written by Jessie Scott on Feb 27th 1871 of Knockintavill (Barnhill). It is believed it was written just before she left for America knowing she would not be coming back to the Isle of Jura.

Farewell to Jura

No more I’ll climb the mountains high
To view the meeting sea and eye.
The stately vessels passing by
On every side of Jura.

Give honour to the great the brave,
To sordid souls the gold they crave,
Give me a walk at dusky eve
Along the shores of Jura.

How dear to me thy every scene,
When sun shines o’er the Western Main,
Or when he walks and spreads again
His golden beams o’er Jura.

By simple nature’s power impressed
There friendship glows in every breast
The stranger is a welcome guest
At every hearth in Jura.

From strife of noisy towns secure,
There mortals spend their lives obscure,
And long may harmony endure
Throughout the Isle of Jura.

Though ne’er to tread thy shores again,
My heart with thee shall aye remain
Where’er I wander I’ll retain
My dearest wish for Jura

Until next month, slainte. David

Laird of Jura newsletter no.5 Oct 05

Firstly, an apology for the lack of news letters over the summer. This has been down to several factors, including lack of time, reorganisation and plain old slackness on my part.  Sorry, I will do better!

Jura fell race 2005

Whitsun weekend at the end of May, 150 or so hardy souls embark on the annual Bens of Jura fell race. This involves running / scrambling over 7 mountain summits with a total vertical ascent of 7500 ft and covering a distance of approximately 16 miles. The course record is just over 3 hours. You may be thinking, “that’s only just over 5 miles an hour – I could walk it in 4 hours,” until you see the Paps and what they are made up of. (Paps, by the way, means breasts. Yes, there are 3 of them!) Sheer scree and boulders with boggy ground in between makes it one of the toughest fell races in the country. Unfortunately, this year the weather won the day. It was wet, windy, cold and the cloud base was low, so for safety’s sake the lower course, which misses out the Paps, had to be used. Five Jura runners completed the course and they took away the local challenge trophy which they compete for every year against the neighbouring island of Islay. Of course, come the morning after (and yet another good dance in the village hall) there were blue skies and bright sunshine. Several of the runners went round the full course just for the fun of it!

Doctor

The new doctor took up his post in May and he and his family seem to have settled well into island life. I hear he is a bit of a musician and will be performing at this year’s music festival.

Jura regatta

The annual regatta is held on the first Saturday in August. It is, and always has been, my favourite event in the Jura calendar and this year I managed a long weekend visit. It’s a busy weekend, but more so with “regular” visitors rather than the general hoards who descend for the fell race and the music festival. This, to me, makes it special as it gives you a chance to catch up with old friends and compete against old foes. The day was sunny and breezy and this year, for the sailing race, I managed to cobble together a boat using the mast and sails from a different one. My nephew and I finished 3^rd (out of 5) so that wasn’t too bad. In the afternoon there is a raft race, which always produces great hilarity, followed by swimming races then rowing and canoe races. I managed a couple of firsts and a second (including showing the young upstarts that I could still paddle a canoe!) and Ardfarnal won the inter-township, the biggest and most competitive race of the day. The evening concert featuring the Wherries was a great success and the dance, featuring Skerryvore from Tiree, was hailed as the best of the summer. A long and happy day was ended at 5am watching the sun rise over Small Isles bay. Perfect!

The Lairds view

When I was on Jura in May, I cleared some of the bracken at the Lairds View. The bluebells were out, the sun was shining and I sat and admired the view for a while.

Bluebells at the Lairds View.

Next time, more photos from the Lairds View and another story about Jura. Slainthe David

News from Isle of Jura for Nov/Dec 04

Air/sea rescue

At the end of October, a large motor yacht ran aground on Eilean Nan Gabhar (Goat Island) in Small Isles Bay. The Islay lifeboat was called to the scene and one crewman was successfully rescued from the island. Unfortunately, while attempting to rescue the second crewman, the lifeboat’s Y-class inflatable boat also ran aground. A Royal Navy search and rescue helicopter was called which airlifted the remaining crewman and the lifeboat men to safety. There were no injuries and the Y-boat was recovered intact, although the yacht itself was destroyed to matchwood.

Isle of Jura 365 update

All the images from the Jura 365 project (see newsletter 1) are now able to be viewed online at www.theisleofjura.co.uk There are several images from around the Crackaig area, where your own Laird of Jura estate is situated.

Isle of Jura Bus fishing competition

There are several fly fishing competitions held on the Isle of Jura throughout the season, predominantly for brown trout. The final competition at Inver, however, gives the anglers the chance of a salmon or sea trout. Held in its customary high winds and blustery showers, this year was no exception with the winning angler, Alec “the bus” himself, landing a fine salmon of almost 6.5 pounds and 5 sea trout over 1 lb. Visiting anglers are welcome to take part in any of the competitions which are held between May and October.

Jura needs a doctor! Can you help?

It’s now a year since Jura’s resident GP retired and the island is still looking for a new doctor. If you know of anyone who may be interested (or are interested yourself) please call the surgery on 01496 820218.

The Isle of Jura gathering

Every November, the annual Jura gathering is held in Glasgow. This is organised by the Glasgow Jura Association and is a chance for Jura expats, residents and anyone with a Jura connection to get together for a good old fashioned ceilidh and dance. Maybe we’ll see some of you Lairds and Ladies there next year? (11th November 2005). All that’s left is for me to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy 2005. Next month I will report on Jura at Christmas and New Year and will hopefully have some new photos of the Laird of Jura Estate.(As long as the weather cooperates!)

 

Slainte David

News from the Isle of Jura for Jan / Feb 2005

Christmas and New Year

For the first time in several years and much to (almost) everyone’s delight, Jura woke up to a blanket of snow on Christmas day. I say almost because the lads who man the gritting trucks probably were not too happy especially one chap who also looks after the water and electricity supplies! It was a busy day for him!!

While Christmas on Jura tends to be a quiet family affair, Hogmanay (New Year) is a wild time of celebrations. It’;s the only night of the year when the pub is empty before midnight (except sometimes for the odd bewildered visitor) as people head to their own homes to “bring in the bells”. Then it’s off first footing around friends and neighbours with most people ending up in the village hall at some point of the night for a Ceilidh.

After the terrible events in South East Asia, it was decided this year to hold a fundraising party in the hall after the bells. This was a great success with £860 raised on the night (not bad for a wee place like Jura). With collection bottles doing the rounds for the next couple of weeks, a grand total of just over £1600 was sent to the appeal.

Burns night

Another excuse for a party, as Jura remembers the Bard, Robbie Burns. The traditional supper of haggis, neeps and tatties (turnips and potatoes) was held in the village hall at the end of January with poetry, song music and dancing keeping everyone entertained until the wee sma hours.

Jura’s doctor

No fewer than 36 applications were received and the latest news is that a new doctor has finally been appointed. It’s amazing what a bit of press coverage can do!

Well, the weather got the better of me and I didn’t get any more photo’s of or from the Lairds’s View (as it has now been christened) when I was on Jura at New Year. Keep an eye on the Laird of Jura site, though, as we hope to have some new pictures up shortly.

During the spring, we hope to put a couple of picnic tables on the site and carry out some bracken control. This is merely to enhance the estate for any visiting Lairds and in no way will
it be over developed.

Isle of Jura Gifts

Within the next couple of weeks, the Isle of Jura gift shop will be on line. Go to www.isleofjuragifts.com to purchase some unique gifts from the island and also books about Jura.

Next time, I hope to bring you a story from Jura’s past and more news about the Isle of Jura gift shop.
Slainte
David

At one time, every household on the Isle of Jura made enough "Scotch" whisky for their own needs. What happened to that?

However that was before the Scottish Parliament made their first tax levy on Scotch whisky in 1644. Then at various times during the 1700’s when the harvest was poor the producing of whisky was legally banned in order to save barley for food.

Many illegal whisky stills were then being operated and there are places on Isle of Jura where evidence of these stills can still be seen. In 1823 a licence fee of £10 was required to legally set up a whisky still. In spite of this, illicit distilling still took place with some of the whisky being consumed on the Isle of Jura the rest being smuggled to the Lowlands of Scotland.

The original Isle of Jura distillery was built in the early 1800’s close to a cave where illegal distilling had probably taken place for many years. It was built by Campbell, the Laird and Chief of the Campbell clan, and let out to many people over the years.    It is recorded it could produce 720 gallons of Scotch whisky per week.

It was then leased to James Ferguson in 1875 and was rebuilt in 1884, producing some 64,000 gallons per year.  When the lease expired, the Laird (owner) attempted to put up the rent. Ferguson would have none of it and dismantled and sold the machinery.  The roof was removed to avoid rates and it seemed as if distilling on Jura had come to an end.

The present Isle of Jura Whisky distillery was built on the site of the old one in 1963, with additions in 1971.  It has changed hands a number of times and is currently owned by Whyte and Mackay one of the major Scotch Whisky firms.

Note: The Isle of Jura Distillery is fairly close to the Isle of Jura Hotel where you can redeem the accommodation discount voucher supplied to all our Laird of Jura members.

 

Discover more about Scotch whisky distilleries on DVD

What is the process for producing Isle of Jura Whisky?

There are a number of different stages involved in the production of Scotch whisky in particular

a) Malting the barley

b) Milling and mashing the barley

c) Fermentation

d) Distillation

e) Maturation/aging whisky

f) Bottling

Each of them in turn affecting the overall taste and quality of the finished drink and each stage will be considered here separately. We will also be considering the taste of each of the whisky brands produced by the Isle of Jura distillery.

The main ingredients of Scotch Whisky is water and barley (the latter being malted prior to being delivered to the distillery). These two ingredients plus the special care given to the whole process influence the taste more than anything else.

The Isle of Jura Whisky Distillery does not malt its own whisky but buys it in to exact specifications from a malting plant. This leaves the malting process in the hands of malting specialists and allows the distillery managers to concentrate on what they are specialist at doing.

Malting is simply the process of steeping the barley in water until germination and small shoots start to appear. The enzymes produced during this stage converts the starch in the barley into sugars which can later ferment into alcohol. Germination is then stopped by heating in a malt kiln. Many Scotch whisky distilleries use a peat fire at this stage to add a peat flavour to the barley and consequently to the taste of the whisky produced from it.

Except for about three weeks a year when it is making its Superstition brand the Isle of Jura distillery does not use the heavy peated barley so producing much lighter tasting whisky. If you visit the Isle of Jura distillery on one its free tours (weekdays by appointment) you will be offered an opportunity to see the three different barleys used in the distillery.

Just as there is little peat in the barley used by the Isle of Jura distillery it also uses a very soft water throughout. This water is taken from a local spring named Bhaile Mhargaidh (literally spring of the market town) that has flowed down from the hillside over rock rather than peat and is hence clearer in colour and purer in taste. It is believed that this same spring water has been used in making illicit whisky since the sixteenth century.