Jura, Scotland
Jura (/ˈdʒʊərə/ JOOR-ə; Scottish Gaelic: Diùra) is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, adjacent to and northeast of Islay. With an area of 36,692 hectares (142 sq mi), and 196 inhabitants recorded in the 2011 census, Jura is more sparsely populated than Islay, and is one of the least densely populated islands of Scotland: in a list of the islands of Scotland ranked by size, Jura comes eighth, whereas by population it comes 31st. The island is mountainous, bare and largely infertile, covered by extensive areas of blanket bog.
| Scottish Gaelic name | Diùra [ˈtʲuːɾə] ⓘ |
|---|---|
| Old Norse name | Dýrey |
| Meaning of name | "deer island" |
Craighouse from the pier with the Paps of Jura in the background | |
| Location | |
Jura Jura shown within Argyll and Bute | |
| OS grid reference | NR589803 |
| Coordinates | 56°N 6°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Islay |
| Area | 366.92 km2 (142 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 8 |
| Highest elevation | Beinn an Òir, 785 m (2,575 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Argyll and Bute |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 196 (2013) |
| Population rank | 31 |
| Population density | 0.5/km2 (1.3/sq mi) |
| Largest settlement | Craighouse |
| References | |
The main settlement is the east coast village of Craighouse. The Jura distillery, producing Isle of Jura single malt whisky, is in the village, as is the island's rum distillery which opened in 2021. Craighouse also houses the island's shop, church, primary school, the Jura hotel and bar, a gallery, craft shop, tearoom and the community run petrol pumps.
North of Craighouse are a number of other small settlements on or near the east coast: Keils, Knockrome, Ardfernal, Lagg, Tarbert, Ardlussa (home of Lussa Gin) and Inverlussa. George Orwell lived on Jura intermittently from 1946 to 1949, and completed his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four while living at a remote farmhouse.
Between Jura's northern tip and the island of Scarba lies the Gulf of Corryvreckan, where a whirlpool makes passage dangerous at certain states of the tide. The southern part of the island, from Loch Tarbert southwards, is designated a national scenic area (NSA), one of 40 such areas in Scotland. The Jura NSA covers 30,317 hectares (117 sq mi): 21,072 of land and 9,245 of adjacent sea.