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The Paps of Jura, two rounded hills side by side, above moorland and the Sound of Islay.
Isle of Jura

Paps of Jura

The three steep quartzite mountains of southern Jura, the highest 785 metres, climbed by rough routes with no fixed path.

Welcome

The Paps of Jura are the three steep, conical quartzite mountains that dominate the view of Jura from almost any direction.

The highest is Beinn an Òir, the mountain of gold, at 785 metres, the only Corbett on the island; to its east stands Beinn Shiantaidh, the sacred mountain, at 757 metres, and to the south-west Beinn a' Chaolais, the mountain of the sound, the smallest at 734 metres. On one of them are the remains of a checkpoint from the Second World War.

There are no fixed routes up. Most walkers start from the three-arched bridge by the Corran River and make for the saddle between Beinn an Òir and Beinn Shiantaidh. On a clear day the view takes in Mull, Colonsay, Kintyre and Arran, Ben Lomond, Islay and Northern Ireland. Every May the Jura Fell Race crosses all three.

Before you go

There are no fixed routes; most walkers start from the three-arched bridge by the Corran River.

Some routes cross steep scree; go only in settled weather, and in the stalking season contact the estates first.

Getting there
Passenger ferry from Tayvallich to Craighouse (April to September), or via Islay: Port Askaig to Feolin.
Route
From the three-arched bridge, by the Corran River.
Height
Beinn an Òir, 785m.
Stalking
Contact the estates in season.

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Did you know

Light breaking through cloud onto one of the Paps of Jura above the water.
Did you know

Only one of the three is a Corbett.

Beinn an Oir is the highest at 785 metres, which makes it the one Pap over 2,500 feet. Beinn Shiantaidh, to its east, is 757 metres, and Beinn a' Chaolais, to the south-west, is 734.

The tops of the Paps of Jura above moor grass.
Did you know

Gold, sacred, and the sound.

The Gaelic names say what each hill is. Beinn an Oir is the mountain of gold, Beinn Shiantaidh the sacred mountain, and Beinn a' Chaolais the mountain of the sound, for the water between Jura and Islay below it.

The Paps of Jura in cloud beyond moorland and a lone cottage, from the air.
Did you know

A race crosses them every May.

The Jura Fell Race runs for 16 miles over seven summits, the three Paps among them, with 7,500 feet of climbing on the way.

The steep shoulder of one of the Paps of Jura falling to the Sound of Islay, a small white beacon on the shore.
What is on

What is new across Jura, day by day.

New places, news and stories, as we find them.

What is on on Jura
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Where it is

The south of Jura, above Craighouse.

Close byIn the south of Jura.
  1. Jura Ferry, Port Askaig to FeolinJura Ferry, Port Askaig to FeolinThe council car ferry across the Sound of Islay, ten minutes from Port Askaig on Islay to Feolin on Jura.3 miles 11 min by road
  2. Camus an StacaCamus an StacaA great prehistoric standing stone, nearly twelve feet high, on a slope above the Sound of Jura near Craighouse.8 miles 19 min by road
  3. Isle of Jura DistilleryIsle of Jura DistilleryThe whisky distillery in Craighouse, founded around 1810 and brought back to life by the islanders in 1963.11 miles 23 min by road
  4. Jura GuidedGuided walks on Jura with an islander, from a shore walk to the long day out to Barnhill and Corryvreckan.11 miles 23 min by road
  5. Corran SandsCorran SandsA long sweep of pale sand at the head of Small Isles Bay near Craighouse, sheltered, shallow and under the Paps of Jura.16 miles 30 min by road
  6. Loch TarbertLoch TarbertThe long sea loch that almost cuts Jura in two, reaching into the island's wild west coast.22 miles 40 min by road
Directions
Tables and chairs in the wood-panelled room at the Antlers in Craighouse.ShoppingThe Antlers11 miles
The Jura Community Shop, a timber building with a red telephone box beside it in Craighouse.ShoppingJura Community Shop11 miles
The Jura Hotel's restaurant with its tables laid under a painted ceiling.RestaurantsThe Jura Hotel Restaurant11 miles
Tartan and tweed pieces made at Camella Crafts, folded on a table.ShoppingCamella Crafts11 miles
Rows of Deer Island rum bottles with turquoise caps.AttractionsDeer Island Distillery11 miles
The dark timber Whisky Island Gallery and Studio at the Pier Garage, Craighouse.ShoppingThe Whisky Island Gallery and Studio11 miles

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The Daily for 23 October, from Scotland with love. Aerial view of a concrete road bridge with angled supports spanning a sea loch, twin cloud-wrapped mountain peaks rising behind autumn-coloured hills.

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What we have written about it and more on Jura.

ArticleJura WhiskyArticleMeet Konrad, owner of The Whisky Island Gallery and StudioArticleMeet Elaine, owner of Camella Crafts
More on Jura
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For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .