Southern Highlands & West Highland Way by Lonely Planet

Author:Lonely Planet
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications

Activities

There are few proper footpaths on Jura, but any off-the-beaten-path exploration will involve rough-going through giant bracken, knee-deep bogs and thigh-high tussocks. Most of the island is occupied by deer-­stalking estates, and access to the hills may be restricted during the stalking season (July to February); the Jura Hotel can provide details of areas to be avoided.

There are easier short walks (one or two hours) east along the coast from Jura House, and north along a 4WD track from Feolin. Jura – A Guide for Walkers by Gordon Wright (£2) is available from the tourist office in Bowmore, Islay.

Evans Walk WALKING

The only real trail on the island is a stalkers’ path that leads for 6 miles from the main road through a pass in the hills to a hunting lodge above the remote sandy beach at Glenbatrick Bay. The path leaves the road 4 miles north of Craighouse (just under a mile north of the bridge over the River Corran). The first 0.75 mile is hard-going along an interwoven braid of faint, squelchy trails through lumpy bog; aim at or just left of the cairn on the near horizon. The path firms up and is easier to follow after you cross a stream. On the descent on the far side of the pass, look out for wild orchids and sundew, and keep an eye out for adders basking in the sun. Allow six hours for the 12-mile round trip.

Corryvreckan Whirlpool Viewpoint Walk WALKING

The walk to a viewpoint for the Corryvreckan Whirlpool, the great tidal race between the northern end of Jura and the island of Scarba, is a good one. From the northern end of the public road at Lealt you hike along a 4WD track past Barnhill to Kinuachdrachd Farm (6 miles). About 30m before the farm buildings a footpath forks left (there’s an inconspicuous wooden signpost low down) and climbs up the hillside before traversing rough and boggy ground to a point 50m above the northern tip of the island. A rocky slab makes a natural grandstand for viewing the turbulent waters of the Gulf of Corryvreckan; if you have timed it right (check tide times at the Jura Hotel), you will see the whirlpool as a writhing mass of white water diagonally to your left and over by the Scarba shore. Allow five to six hours for the round trip (16 miles) from the road end.

Paps of Jura CLIMBING

Climbing the Paps of Jura is a truly tough hill-walk over ankle-breaking scree that requires good fitness and navigational skills (you’ll need eight hours for the 11 long, hard and weary miles). A good place to start is by the bridge over the River Corran, 3 miles north of Craighouse. The first peak you reach is Beinn a’Chaolais (734m), the second is Beinn an Oir (784m) and the third is Beinn Shiantaidh (755m). Most people also climb Corra Bheinn (569m), before joining Evans’ Walk to return to the road. If you succeed in bagging all four, you can reflect

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.