Jura is a Scottish island in the Inner Hebrides, an island group, north-east of Islay, in the district of Argyll and Bute. With less than 200 people living on approximately 400km2 /140sqm it is less densely populated than the larger Islay. The highest mountain on Jura is ‘Beinn an Òir’ at 785 m (2,575 ft) and the principal settlement is Craighouse on the east coast where the only hotel, shop, whisky distillery and church are. The island with its 115m of coastline, is designated as a National Scenic Area.

There is no direct ferry connection between Jura and mainland Scotland. You have to go via Islay from where a small car ferry operates across the Sound of Islay between Port Askaig on Islay and Feolin Ferry on Jura. Since  September 2007, a new, foot passenger only, ferry service operated in summer between Craighouse and Tayvallich on the mainland.

There are several possible explanations where the name ‘Jura’ comes from. Some say it derives from the Norse name ‘Dyr-oy’ or ‘Dysey’ (deer island) which became the Gaelic name ‘Diùra’ or the nowadays Jura..

Jura House in the south of the island has a garden that is open to the public and contains exotic plants from Australasia. Also the whisky distillery in Craighouse is worth a visit.

What to do on Jura?

Watching the wildlife ;-) The half tame red deer are the main, and most visible, animal, but with a bit of luck you can also observe stoat, ermines, eagles, harriers, buzzards, hawks, owls and if you are very lucky even minks. There are also a few snakes, mainly adders around, so better wear good, sturdy footwear if you are off for a walk.

Seals are found on the entire coast of Jura, a particular good spot to watch –and photograph them- is Craighouse Bay. A word of warning to the swimmers, the sea can be treacherous, ask the locals first where it is safe to swim and where not!
Remember that Jura is called the ‘deer island’ in old norse for a good reason, 5-6000 red deer, attracts photographers and hunters alike. The deer here are especially well fed and can weight from 44-170kg/ 7-26 stones with the males, the stags, being larger and heavier. The stags sport antlers with up to 14 points, making them a trophy for hunters and photographers alike. I guess the deer prefers the photographers ;-)  Best season to photograph the rutting males is in September/ October when they fight with each other over the dominance in the territory and over the females. The deers can also be observed crossing the currents between Islay and Jura to get from one island to the next. Another very special sight can be found in winter when they come to the shore to feed on their winter diet – seaweed.

Hikers and walkers might also want to climb the ‘Paps of Jura’ three steep-sided conical quartzite mountains on the west side of the island. The three major peaks are: ‘Beinn an Òir’ (Gaelic for ‘mountain of gold’) 2,575 ft/ 785 m, ‘Beinn Shiantaidh’ (Gaelic for ‘holy mountain’) with 2,477 ft/ 755 m and ‘Beinn a' Chaolais’ (Gaelic for ‘mountain of the kyle’) with 2,408 ft/ 734m height. These three peaks together with four lower hills are the challenge in the annual ‘Isle of Jura Fell Race’. They were also made famous by William McTaggart's with his  painting of ‘The Paps of Jura’ that now hangs in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

There is only one hotel, but bed and breakfast and cottages for rent can be found all over the island. The only shops are in Craighouse, if you plan to stay for longer in self-catering accommodation it may pay out to shop in advance  on the Scottish mainland in a supermarket. Small restaurants and pubs can be found mainly in Craighouse.

On the northern end of Jura is Barnhill, where George Orwell spent most of the last three years of his life. Orwell was known to the residents of Jura only by his real name, Eric Blair. It was at Barnhill that Orwell finished his masterpiece 1984 whilst terminal ill with tuberculosis. He died shortly after finishing the book.

The other, more infamous, event that took place on Jura was the burning of  £1 million in banknotes by the music group KLF, formed by Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty, on 23 August, 1994. They even filmed themselves as they burned £1 million in banknotes in the Ardfin boathouse on the south coast of the island. Something un-understandable for the Scottish residents on the Isle of Jura! Jura Scotland – 5555 deer can’t be wrong ;-)