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The west is wild and virtually uninhabited, occupied only by the three Paps of Jura which are known in Gaelic as The Mountain of the Sound, The Mountain of Gold and The Sacred Mountain. The island's annual Fell Race takes place in May. Many caves and raised beaches can be found on the west coast, but you'll have to be a good walker to reach them. Jura's only road leads up the east coast (public transport is limited to a minibus, so it's best if you have your own car). If you want to get away from it all, this is the place to come. The novelist George Orwell who stayed on the island at Barnhill during the 1940s quite rightly described it as "an extremely un-getatable place". Wildlife lovers will be interested to know that there are over 100 species of birds (including golden eagles) on the island, together with wild goats, seals, rabbits, hares, stoats and otters. How to get to Jura The main route on to Jura is via the small vehicle ferry from Port Askaig on the Isle of Islay. It takes just 5 minutes to cross to Feolin on the southern tip of Jura. Tel: 01496 840 681. Timetables. Islay Sea Safari operates a passenger ferry service in the summer to Craighouse from Tayvallich on the mainland. Tel: 07768 450000 / 01496 840 510. Timetables. Gemini Cruises & Water Taxi operate from Crinan on the mainland. They can take you over to Ardlussa or the northern tip of Jura and show you the famous whirlpool. Tel: 01546 830208 / Mobile 07765813950. Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland. The local bus is run by Alex Dunnichie - telephone 01496 820314 - online timetable. Mike Richardson gives guided tours of the island in his 12-seater Landrover. Tel: 07899 912116. If you would like a qualified tour guide for your visit to the island, consult the Argyll Islands Tourist Guides Association. Elizabeth Buie made a trip to Jura in 1987 and has posted a page on the Web about her experience. My travellers' tips file may also be useful if you are planning a trip to Scotland. It covers airlines, national car hire, train information, accommodation web sites, etc. If you are going over on the ferry from Kennacraig to Islay and need a place to stay, Springside B&B is a traditional cottage overlooking Tarbert harbour (just 5 miles from the ferry terminal at Kennacraig) between Loch Fyne and the Mull of Kintyre. Also try White Rock Bed and Breakfast which is a converted 18th century hilltop croft house on a small farm near Lochgilphead (25 miles from the ferry terminal at Kennacraig). 1 double room and 1 single / small double. Evening meals by arrangement. Organic produce. Jura Development web site has a detailed map of the island. For searchable maps of Scotland, visit Streetmap.co.uk and UK Multimap.com What to see and do on Jura Next to the ferry terminal, Feolin Ferry House holds the largest database of information about the Isle of Jura in existence in the world. JURA HOUSE & GARDENS Located 5 miles from the ferry at a place called Ardfin or White Promontory. The house was built by the Campbells in the early 1800s and is now available as self catering for groups of up to 15 people. The gardens and grounds are open to the public, all year 9am-5pm. There is a tea tent weekdays only June - August. Visit the official web site for details. Inside the gate is an honesty box and a huge map. The small admission charge includes a little guide book to the two walks you can try (one short, one long). You can buy plants in the walled garden where gardener Peter Cool from Holland has been for over 20 years. The guide book relates the interesting story of the crofting township of Brosdale which the Laird's wife had demolished because it spoilt her view from the big house. She had another village built for them out of sight, but it was soon deserted. From the trail you can see two little islands offshore. The one on the right is Am Fraoch Eilean or Heather Island which controlled the entrance to the Sound with the now ruined Claig Castle. Follow the path down to the grey coloured beach and you will find it is made from grains of the local quartzite. Further along, the path runs next to some of the famous Jura slate. The longer walk will take you to The Misty Pool, waterfall, Bronze Age burial cairn and also a Neolithic chambered burial cairn thought to be 2000 years old. CRAIGHOUSE The capital of Jura is 8 miles from the ferry. It is probably the only place on the island you will find anywhere to eat or drink. The village is home to petrol pumps, post office, gift shop, tea-room, church and the Jura Hotel which has its own web site full of local information. Isle of Jura Distillery produces a light malt whisky. The first official distillery on Jura was built in 1810 but there is evidence that illicit distilling took place as far back as 1502. It has been expanded over the years but still occupies the same site, draws its water from the same natural source and remains the only distillery on the island. To visit telephone 01496 820240 or email michael.heads@whyteandmackay.co.uk. Visit isleofjura.com for more details. The general store is run by Stephen Martin and his wife who have produced an excellent web site which features photos and a map of the island. If you are going to Jura and need supplies arranging in advance, just let them know. Internet access is available at the Jura Service Point is next to the school in Craighouse. Open 10am - 1pm Monday to Friday. KEILS Just north of Craighouse is the old crofters' settlement. Today most of the remaining thatched roofs on the cottages have fallen down, but you can still imagine how the people lived. NORTHERN JURA Ardlussa and Inverlussa: cemetery and cottages overlooking the bay. Saint Earnan, the uncle of Saint Columba, is buried in Inverlussa graveyard, together with a lady called Mary MacCrain who apparently lived until she was 128. The road, such as it is, stops here, but if you continue along the track (unsuitable for motorised vehicles), eventually it reaches the northern tip of Jura, where George Orwell wrote 1984 and almost lost his life in the Corryvreckan whirlpool. THE PAPS OF JURA These mountains are not that easy to get to or to climb when you reach them. The upper slopes are mainly made of scree and lumps of quartzite. You are recommended to wear strong boots. It can easily take you the best part of a day just to reach and walk up one of the 3 mountains, but on a clear day you will be able to see for miles from the summit. They rise to around 2400-2500 feet. Check if deer stalking is in progress (usually on days between 1 July and 20 October) by using the hillphone service, tel: 01496 820151. HISTORIC MONUMENTS There are several standing stones scattered about the east coast of Jura. A Neolithic burial cairn can be found south of Strone farm. South-east of Ardmenish, on Lowlandman's Bay is the dun known as An Dunan. The ruins of Glengarrisdale Castle are in the north-west of the island. Visit isleofjura.com for more details. EVENTS Events diary - click here 24 May 2008 - Fell Race 29h May 2008 - Whisky Festival Useful Books and Maps Islay, Jura and Colonsay: a Historical Guide Publisher Birlinn writes: 'The story of Islay, Jura and Colonsay is one of the most fascinating amongst all the Hebrides. They have had substantial human occupation since earliest times and man has left many relics across the islands, from tools and artefacts of mesolithic times to the modern-day distilleries of Islay and Jura. From the period between survive chambered cairns, iron age forts, magnificent early crosses, enigmatic carvings, early monasteries, relics of the Lordship of the Isles, deserted townships and shielings, planned villages, corn mills, kelp kilns and lead mines and much else besides.' This 246-page paperback guide book lists all the places of interest on the 3 islands with detailed location maps and sketches. Published in June 2001. Available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com Jura Publisher Birlinn writes: 'This is the first major work to be written on one of the largest and most important of the islands of the Hebrides. Probably the Hinba of the early church, Jura's geographic situation made it important through succeeding centuries through the Viking period and into that of the Lordship of the Isles. As Pennant's extract shows the island carried a fairly large population right through the period of Campbell domination into the era of emigration and clearance.' This 589-page hardback is the definitive historic reference book about the island. It includes sections of old b/w photos, colour photos and portraits. Published in July 2001. Available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com The Southern Hebrides and Arran (Island Walks) Produced by famous island-hopper Hamish Haswell-Smith and Stephen Whitehorne. A selection of 26 graded walks (easy to strenuous) on the following islands: Arran - Islay - Jura - Colonsay and Oronsay - Kerrera - Lismore - Mull - Iona - Tiree - Coll - Bute - Gigha - Staffa Paperback. 192 pages. Published February 2003. Available from Amazon UK and Amazon.com If you intend to go hillwalking or hiking generally on the island, you will need the scale of maps provided by the Landranger series produced by the Ordnance Survey which is the official map agency of the UK. The Jura & Colonsay map can be bought online via Amazon.co.uk. Don't forget you can browse my selection of Scottish books - or search on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk: Accommodation B&B accommodation: The Isle of Jura Hotel is the island's only hotel. Located at Craighouse. 18 rooms. B&B prices start at £35 per person. Open all year. Telephone: 01496 820243 / Fax: 01496 820249. Mike Richardson has a bothy and offers B&B at Kinuachdrachd (the north end). Tel: 07899 912116. With his 12-seater Landrover, he gives guided tours of the island. The Whitehouse, Ardfarnal - tel: 01496 820393 8 Woodside, Craighouse - tel: 01496 820319 The Manse, Craighouse - tel: 01496 820384 Self-catering properties to rent on the island include: Boiden Cottage is located at Ardfarnal, 5 miles from Craighouse. It sleeps 6 in 2 bedrooms (1 double bedroom and 1 bedroom with a double bed and two single beds). Scottish Tourist Board 3 Stars. Telephone Drew & Christine Fairman: 01496 820393. Brat Bheinn is a self catering cottage at Crackaig Bay (1.5 miles from Craighouse). Sleeps 4. Dubh Bheinn is a cottage with 2 bedrooms at Crackaig Bay (1.5 miles from Craighouse). Jura Holiday Let is a 3 bedroom house in Craighouse. Contact Kim Henry, tel: 01785 614701. Jura House can be rented out on a weekly basis for groups of up to 15 people. Telephone Mrs. Mirjam Cool: 01496 820 315. Small Isles House in Craighouse sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms. Heather Cottage - 3 bedrooms (sleeping 5) at Inverlussa. Member of Scottish Tourist Board. Contact Mrs. Fletcher. Phone 01786 850 274. Braeside - a bungalow sleeping 5, set above Craighouse. Scottish Tourist Board 2 stars. Contact Mr Charles Renwick. Tel: 0141 946 4361. Burnbank Cottages Jura Lodge Stalkers Cottage Sea View Cottage For more information about the island, visit these external links: www.theisleofjura.co.uk includes local news, events, virtual tour, geneaology, Gaelic place names and much more Jura Development Trust web site isleofjura.com Jura Hotel web site Jura Stores web site Isle of Jura gifts visit-islay.com - includes Visitor Reports Jura photos and travelogue by Armin Grewe Isle of Jura photos and sightseeing by Scotlandview Photos of Jura by Colin Palmer (part of his Scottish collection) Mearnscraft -Cross stitch kits of Scottish maps including Islay & Jura
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