“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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