Tuesday 9 November 2010

ISLE JURA TRIP 6th – 20th JULY 2010

“What Happened Was”

Day’s drive to Loch Fyne for one night stay at the West Loch Hotel on the shores of Loch Fyne, one of the most beautiful lochs at the West Coast of Scotland - the home of crystal clear lochs, lush green vegetation and exceptionally warm weather in summer.
 
With a beautiful morning we enjoyed a pleasant crossing, taking two and half hours.  After a little confusion as the Email ticket said Port Askaig, however, we were in Port Ellen.   Only a short drive (ten miles) to Port Askaig.   The distance from Port Askaig to Jura is short, with ferries running every 30 min, from 7.30am till 6.30pm (Booking not required).


After a short drive (eight miles) on single track road (A846) we are in the heart of Jura at Craighouse; consisting of a Hotel, Distillery, Shop/Post Office, Village Hall and Bistro/Café.   One road runs the length of the South and East coast of Jura single track. 

Our accommodation for the week was a large caravan overlooking the sea, located in Keils a crofting township, made up of croft cottages, a farm and a new build.


After settling in we took an evening walk up through the crofting township of Keils and Kilearnadil (smaller than a Hamlet) Kilearnadil is an ancient grave-yard, named after St Cumba’s uncle, and contains the Campbell mausoleum and medieval grave slabs.  

 
Returning to the shore with beautiful views over the bay to the Small Isles; Eilean Bhrid, Padda,  Eilean nan Coinein and Eilean nan Gabhar we returned along the shore and back to Keils.

Sunshine start today which was Sunday, so we attended the local Church of Scotland for morning service.  

In the afternoon Kathy made up packed lunches and we departed on a cycle ride to Lowlandman’s Bay (Bay of the Foreigners) a 16 Kilometer round trip, enjoyed our picnic lunch on the sea cliffs above “The Light Houses” built in 1865 for the families of the Skervuile (Iron Rock) Lighthouse keepers.



Wet day time spent reading and local shopping clearing in the afternoon cycled into Craighouse for a few hours, to visit the church and their photographic display.

Cycle tour of Jura, from Lagg Bay followed the road north through Corrynahera Forrest to the small crofting township of Tarbet, (The Place to Carry from Sea to Sea) after a short break cycled the old drovers trail to Loch Tarbert used by drovers, and pilgrims’ over the years as the quickest way from Colonsay to the mainland as the option of sailing through The Gulf of Corryvreckan, classed as un-navigable by The Admiralty.    


 Jura House Walled Garden
When the Campbells of Jura built Jura House and its adjacent walled garden, they picked a lovely spot on its south shore with beautiful views and shelter in mind. The views to Islay and occasionally Kintyre and Ireland are indeed spectacular with its ever changing moods. The garden was designed as a Victorian Kitchen garden with boxwood hedges, a rosegarden, vegetables and fruit trees against the walls, now one of few remaining, active walled gardens.    
Argyll as a whole has a very favorable growing climate, long days and high rainfall in summer, combined with the mild influence of the Gulf Stream in winter, makes for rapid growth. So long as shelter is provided from the killer winds, but the flipside of this is that, in a dry summer, while everything down south goes yellow, here things thrive.


Paps of Jura

Paps of Jura found in the southern half of the island. The highest of the three is Beinn an Oir, the Mountain of Gold, is 785m is the only Corbett, a mountain in Scotland between 2500 and 3000 ft. Beinn Shiantaidh, the Sacred Mountain, is 757m and stands to the east of Beinn an Oir, while Beinn a' Chaolais, the Mountain of the Sound, stands to the south-west and is the smallest of the three at 734m.

Cora Bheinn, the steep mountain, stands at a height of 569 m.   This was a misty day and yes I enjoyed the challenge but not the two hours bog walk off the mountain, however the sun was shining when I arrived back at the car where Kathy was reading her book.








Last Day
 
Cycle ride and walk to Craighouse Pier and on to Loch a Bhaile-Mhargaidh Waterfalls, returning for some refreshment at the Jura Hotel and on to Corran Sands for a paddle and lunch.  As our last day we ate out at the Jura Hotel a most enjoyable dinner.
Saturday we departed to Isle of Islay touring the coast by cycle exploring the lovely beaches.


The following morning took a short cycle ride along the coast before departing Port Ellen to Kennacraig, and on to Dunfermline to stay with my sister Maureen and Jim.


 I strongly recommend you visit the beautiful 
“Isla of Jura” one day, soon!

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