Jura

Scotland's Adventure Coast

The mountainous, wild and sparsely populated island of Jura has a rugged and remote appeal. Jura is the eighth largest Scottish island, and yet only around 200 people live here. The deer population, by contrast, numbers between 6,000 and 7,000.

The island’s distinctive peaks, the Paps of Jura, offer fantastic hillwalking and one thing you’re sure to see when you visit Jura is the wonderful wildlife, such as red deer and wild goats.

Gaelic in Scotland

The indigenous language of Argyll contains a great richness of expression. Here we have some lines from the Gaelic poetic tradition about Islay & Jura.

Ó mo ghaol air Ìle ’n fheòir
Far an d’ fhuair mi m’ àrach òg;
Oh my love for Islay of the grass
Where I got my early upbringing
(Trad.)

Islay & Jura

With thanks to partners CHARTS

Islay Jura 01

Visit Jura

Scotland's Adventure Coast

The spectacular beaches and mesmerising wilderness of the Inner Hebridean islands of Islay and Jura will fill you with joy and enrich your life.

Home to a vast variety of birds and wildlife, big unblemished skies, and, of course, world-famous distilleries, these islands are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and will either have you relaxing with the peace and quiet, tapping your toes to traditional music, or tantalising your taste buds with quality local produce.

Jura

If you’re looking to see more wildlife than you do people, Jura is for you. Considered one of Scotland’s last wildernesses, with a population of around 200, outnumbered by over 5000 deer. Jura, believed to originate from the Norse ‘Island of the Deer’, is a walker’s paradise with the Paps of Jura being the main destination.

Paps of Jura rule over the island, which is comprised of three steep-sided conical quartzite mountains rising to 785 metres (2,575 ft). Beinn an Òir is the highest of the three mountain,s standing at 785 metres (2,575 ft), followed by Beinn Shiantaidh, at 757 metres (2,484 ft) and the lowest of the Paps being Beinn a' Chaolais, reaching 733 metres (2,405 ft). 

Jura had a famous resident from 1946 to 1949, the renowned novelist and poet George Orwell. During his time on the Isle, he wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four at Barnhill, his final novel.  

You can also visit the world’s third-largest whirlpool, Corryvreckan, which sits between Jura and nearby Scarba in the north – it’s a sight like no other

Top reasons to visit Islay & Jura

Big skies, soaring eagles, red deer and peaty malts; here are top reasons to visit the Hebridean islands of Islay and Jura.

WHISKY White 01
10 Whisky Distilleries
CASTLE 01
5 Castles
Eagle 01
3 RSPB reserves
Golf 01
2 Links Golf Courses
HILLS 01
The Paps of Jura
WILDLIFE 01
Deer Island

Explore Jura

Jura businesses and Activity Providers visiting Jura
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Lorne Cottage, Isle of Jura

With stunning views over Small Isles Bay, our self-catering holiday cottage is literally a stone's throw from the beach. It's also a short stroll into Craigh...

Lorne Cottage
Craighouse
Isle of Jura
Argyll and Bute
PA60 7XR

Tel: 07387311981

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McKinlay Kidd Ltd

Award-winning specialist tour operator making holidays differently throughout Argyll and the Isles. At McKinlay Kidd, we like to get up close and personal wi...

Head Office: McKinlay Kidd
6/1 (front) The Hatrack
144 St Vincent St
Glasgow
G2 5LQ

Tel: 0141 260 9260

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West Coast Motors

Our extensive bus network across the West Coast of Scotland covering Campbeltown, Ardrishaig, Oban, Mull, Bute, Dunoon and Glasgow allows you to explore our...

Head Office, Benmhor
Campbeltown
PA28 6DN

Tel: 01586 552319

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Lussa Gin

Lussa Gin is made by 3 women at the end of the single-track road on the Isle of Jura. They grow and gather 15 botanicals and use a unique distillation proces...

The Stables
Ardlussa
Isle of Jura
Argyll
PA60 7XW

Tel: 01496 820196

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Selkie Tours

Selkies are magical and marvellous creatures, they are kind, caring and intelligent. When in human form, our seals curate unique Itineraries, hosting fabulou...

Oban
Argyll
PA34 5NJ

Tel: 07554371630

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Jura Boat Tours

We offer bespoke Rib Tours to various areas of outstanding beauty in our modern, fully coded passenger Rib. There is an abundance of Wildlife found around ou...

3 Woodside
Craighouse
Isle of Jura
Argyll
PA607YA

Tel: 07976 280195

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Whisky and Waves

Whisky and Waves offers unforgettable sailing experiences along Scotland’s rugged west coast, blending adventure and whisky heritage. Based in Oban, our priv...

Oban
North Pier
PA34 5QD

Tel: 07919368415

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Bothan Jura Retreat

Sitting above Corran Sands, at the gateway to the Paps of Jura in the crofting settlement of Knockrome, we have built Bothan Jura Retreat as a space to unwin...

Bothan Jura Retreat
Knockrome
Isle of Jura
PA60 7XZ

Tel: 07876 681165

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Islay & Jura on YouTube

Immerse yourself in all things Islay & Jura by watching our dedicated YouTube playlist for food and drink, activities and so much more!

Watch YouTube
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Getting here

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Planning your journey

Travelling to and from Islay and Jura is a 2 hour ferry crossing from Kennacraig on the Kintyre pennisual which can be reached by car or by bus.

If travelling by car to Jura, take the Islay ferry from Kennacraig before taking the short connecting ferry from Port Askaig across to Jura. If by foot, take the passenger only service to Craighouse on Jura, from Tayvallich near Lochgilphead.

You can even fly to Islay from Glasgow.

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