The Isle of Jura
The presence of deer clearly goes back a long way, as the name Jura
is thought to derive from the Norse for "Deer Island". There is even a type of stag with an
unusual antler form that is unique to Jura, known as the cromie stag.
Today only the eastern coastal areas of the island are
inhabited, with the rest of the island remaining an unspoilt wilderness of
mountains, rivers, lochs and wetlands. It is rich in history dating right back to Stone Age
times, with many sites of historic interest including
standing stones, iron
age forts and abandoned villages pointing to a bygone
age when the island supported a much larger population than it does today.
Jura's spectacular coastline extends to 115 miles and offers a broad range of interesting features including caves, cliffs raised beaches and long expanses of white sand. The island also supports many rare species of flora and fauna. There are over 100 different species of birds including the golden eagle, sea eagle, kestrel and hen harrier. Besides the large deer population, many other rare mammals inhabit the island, including a healthy otter population: it is said that there is a pair of otters for every three miles of coastline. Small Isles Bay has its own resident colony of seals which are often to be seen basking on the rocks in front of the Manse.
If you enjoy climbing and hill walking then the famous Paps of Jura
are definitely worthy of seeing. They rise to over 2500 feet and consist of mainly scree and
lumps of quartzite. Strong legs and walking boots are essential, but the views from the summits
are spectacular and well worth the arduous climb. Islay, Colonsay, Mull, Scarba and Ireland can
all be seen from the top.