At some point the Norseman ruled the island from the Isle of Man until Somerled, whose steady rise to power in the Hebrides was cemented in the famous sea-battle of 1156 of Islay, ended Norse power in the Hebrides. The main stalking season is from August to the end of October.įrom a historical point of view one can say that Jura’s history is in many ways similar to the other islands of the Hebrides. If you wish to walk during the stalking season, please check with the gamekeepers concerned. 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 maltings are sourced from Port Ellen and the peat is from the Isle of Jura.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. Their stills used to be the tallest, until the Glenmorangie Distillery was built. Jura owns 4 stills 2 wash and 2 spirit stills of 24,500 liters and 15,500 liters of capacity respectively. The Loch a’Bhaile Mhargadh is the main water source of the distillery. In 1985, it was purchased by Invergordon distillers and in 1993, Whyte & Mackay took the control of the distillery. In 1962, Scottish & Newcastle Breweries formed Mackinlay-McPherson in order to make the distillery operational and in 1963, Jura was on its feet again. In 1901, the family reportedly fell into a conflict with the then Laird of Jura, resulting in the dismantling of the distillery. It changed various owners until 1876, when the Ferguson family purchased it. Jura Distillery was founded in 1810, and got its licence in 1831. Jura Distillery is located on the island of Jura in the Inner Hebrides, actually it is really close to the island of Islay.

Jura isle of jura