Corran Sands – Jura's Long Beach under the Paps

The walk

Corran Sands has a car park on each side of the Corran River, about three miles north of Craighouse on the island's one road. Start at Wee Corran, the one on the Craighouse side, which has bins and a picnic table. Big Corran is across the river, with the widest stretch of sand and the best view of the Paps. Walkhighlands gives the circuit of the beach and the river as 4 km, or two and a half miles, and an hour and a half. The beach is firm sand and easy walking, and the stretch beside the river is muddy, so wear boots. The water is shallow and sheltered. Jura has more than 5,000 red deer, which outnumber its people many times over, so keep an eye on the moor behind the beach. The island's stalking season runs from 1 July to 15 February, and the islanders ask walkers heading for the hills in those months to ring the estate first. This walk keeps to the shore and the river. Keep dogs under close control near sheep and deer. There are no toilets at the beach: the public ones are by the pier in Craighouse.

Bring food, as nowhere in Craighouse can be counted on in winter without ringing first. The Jura Hotel is on 01496 820243 if you'd like to ask about lunch. From November to January, set off by 1pm. Corran Sands is 12 miles from the ferry slip at Feolin, about 25 minutes' drive. Jura takes two ferries. The first is CalMac's car ferry from Kennacraig in Kintyre to Port Askaig on Islay, a crossing of just under two hours, which must be booked. Port Ellen's ferry terminal is closed until 2029, so every Islay boat uses Port Askaig. The second is the council's small car ferry from Port Askaig across the Sound of Islay to Feolin, five minutes away. It can't be booked: turn up 10 minutes early and pay on board by card or cash. On its winter timetable, from 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027, it leaves Port Askaig through the day from 7.35am to 6.30pm, Monday to Saturday. On a Sunday it leaves at 10.30am, 2pm, 3.15pm and 4.30pm, and at 8.30am and 6.30pm only if booked by noon the day before on 01496 840681.

The boat turns straight round at Feolin, so to come back, be on the Feolin slip before the time it leaves Port Askaig. The 6.30pm run is the last of the day. A day trip from the mainland is possible but tight. Off the 7am boat from Kennacraig, which doesn't sail on a Tuesday or a Sunday, you can be on Jura by 10am. To get home on a Monday or Wednesday you need the 4.10pm run back from Feolin for the 5.25pm boat off Islay. On a Thursday, Friday or Saturday the 4.45pm run meets the 6pm or 6.05pm boat. A night on Islay or Jura makes a far easier day of it. Until 18 October the summer timetables apply, so read the times on CalMac's Islay page and the council's Jura ferry page. Wind can stop either boat: look at CalMac's service status page on the morning, and ring the Jura ferry office on 01496 840681.