Welcome to the Isle of Jura
The Isle of Jura is one of Scotland’s last wildernesses. A little over 200 people are outnumbered by more than 5,000 deer on this stunning Scottish island.
Welcome to the Isle of Jura
One of Britain's last great wildernesses, the Isle of Jura is an untamed beauty. A hidden and mostly unexplored gem in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides where rugged coastal landscapes rub shoulders with world-famous whisky and expansive wilderness. Jura is an island of adventure, tranquillity, and unforgettable magic.
Deer Island
With a vibrant local community of little over 200 residents dotted along its single track road and over 5,000 red deer, this is a place where nature still reigns supreme; in fact the name Jura, or Diúra in Gaelic, is believed to originate from the Norse “Island of the Deer”.
Hike the legendary Paps of Jura, three towering peaks made of Dalradian quartzite, that dominate the skyline; or wander along pristine coastlines where seals bask in the sun and otters scurry along the shoreline. Look up and you might see one of ten pairs of breeding sea eagles, a peregrine falcon or osprey. Look out to sea and you’ll often see dolphins and occasional minke whales.
Jura has a lot to offer its visitors
Jura is perhaps most well known for four things – George Orwell, who lived here at Barnhill while writing 1984; the KLF who came here to burn a million pounds; the Corryvreckan, 3rd biggest whirlpool in the world; and its single malt whisky.
But there are plenty more things to see and do, we’ve covered a few things on the Things To Do page. There are many historical sites of interest, varying from Iron Age Forts, ancient burial grounds and standing stones.
You can visit the Jura Distillery to experience the island’s signature smooth, rich flavours – take a tour or savour a dram in the visitor centre. Less known are the island’s two other distilleries – award-winning Lussa Gin in the north of the island at Ardlussa grow and forage their own botanical and have a new new Juniper Garden opening this year; and Deer Island Rum in Craighouse also offer tours and tastings in the village.
From wildlife spotting to wild swimming, from beach yoga to a boat trip to the legendary Corryvreckan Whirlpool or a ceilidh in the village hall at the Music Festival, Jura offers something for every traveller. It’s an island where time slows down, and reconnecting with nature and yourself happens almost by accident.
George Orwell famously described his northern own retreat here as “un-get-at-able” and something of the magic of this remoteness still persists in the island’s DNA. Fortunately it’s not quite as difficult to get here these days, and there are a number of options go to our travel page.
Updated 17/04/25. These pages are updated by volunteer locals, we hope you find up-to-date information here and let us know if we’ve missed anything or have anything incorrect and we’ll put that right.
Photograph copyright and credit throughout the site: Martin Beastall, Campbell Lindsay, Pi Davidson, Ron Steenvoorden (thank you!). Please do not reproduce without prior permission.
Download the Jura Digital Guidebook here: Jura Digital Guide
