A DAY ON JURA
Destinations:
Length of trip:
Distilleries: NORTH UIST DISTILLERY
Jura Distillery is situated in the heart of Craighouse. Stop by the visitor centre and enjoy a sampling, and then explore the village before heading out for a hike or boat ride.
DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4
Morning
Start your day off with a tour at the distillery. Standing at 28 feet tall, Jura’s stills are some of the tallest stills in the industry and are a sight to behold. Tour offerings include a standard tour and a Distillery Exclusives tour. The retail area offers tastings in addition to a range of bottles and merchandise for sale.
Afternoon
If you’re on foot, explore the village of Craighouse with spectacular views across Small Isle Bay. Walk down to the Old Pier where you will find quality crafts in Camella Crafts and The Whisky Island Gallery & Studio. If you’re lucky, Deer Island Rum Distillery might just be open as well. After your walk, Jura Boat Tours offers bespoke RIB (rigid inflatable boat) tours to various areas of outstanding natural beauty (and an abundance of wildlife) around the island’s shores. The tours take you to enjoy the Corryvreckan Whirlpool, raised beaches (remnants from the Ice Age), caves, lighthouses and more.
Camella Crafts
If you have a car, drive down to Corran Sands for a peaceful visit to a sandy beach. Then take yourself out to visit Barnhill, the 1940’s farmhouse where George Orwell penned his classic, 1984. To complete your whisky – rum – gin experience, be sure to pop into Lussa Gin while you’re here as well.
Accommodation and Dining:
The Jura Hotel is the perfect basecamp for which to explore the island. From the peaceful village of Craighouse and just a few steps away from the distillery, the Jura Hotel has breathtaking views across the water. The Hotel offers expertly prepared meals made with fresh ingredients served daily in the restaurant, pub and lounge bar. If you’re more of a B&B or self-catering kind of visitor, you’ll find a range from renovated bothies to 5-star estates available on our small island.
Transportation:
Argyll and Bute Council provide a year-round passenger and car ferry from Port Askaig, Islay, to Jura. If you arrive on Islay via a CalMac ferry at Port Askaig, you’ll disembark right next to the 6 car ferry. It’s a short journey across, and tickets can be purchased at the port. To get to Islay, you’ll need to take a CalMac ferry or fly into Islay Airport. If you are coming on foot, you’ll need to arrange a taxi to take you the 8 miles into Craighouse.
During the summer, the Jura Passenger Ferry operates from Tayvallich and drops you off at the pier at Craighouse, just steps away from the distillery.
Craighouse pier also offers 8 moorings with no charge for an overnight stay, for those sailing the Hebridean Whisky Trail.
Helpful tips:
Jura Distillery is open weekdays, Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm. Tours book up quickly, so it’s best to book ahead of time to ensure a spot is available.
The Isle of Jura website has useful suggestions on further itineraries.