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Isle of Jura and a perfect day on the Paps

Isle of Jura and a perfect day on the Paps


Postby GariochTom » Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:48 pm

Route description: The Paps of Jura

Corbetts included on this walk: Beinn an Òir

Fionas included on this walk: Beinn a' Chaolais, Beinn Shiantaidh

Date walked: 19/06/2010

Time taken: 10 hours

Distance: 20.5 km

Ascent: 1440m

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I thought that I would post a report and photographs from one of the best hillwalking weekends I have ever had, on the Isle of Jura in the height of summer last year...

We set off on a chartered boat (a RIB - rigid inflatable boat) from Tayvallich on the Friday evening, racing the scheduled Jura Passenger Ferry across to the east coast of the island.
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Racing the Jura Passenger Ferry

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On the way

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Jura Hotel and Distillery

On arrival at Craighouse on the east coast of the island, some of us set up our tents on the lawn of the Jura Hotel overlooking the Sound of Jura (the hotel permits this and only asks for a small donation, and provides coin operated showers). Others opted for the luxury of a room in the hotel.
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Our campsite overlooking the Sound of Jura

We all then met in the hotel bar for a meal before retiring to our respective tents and rooms.

The next morning, after breakfast amidst the smell of the Jura Distillery, we took the bus 5km up the road to the start point of the Paps walk, at the Three Arches Bridge. My memories of routes walked weeks ago, let alone last year, are very hazy, so our route will be described by pictures and a map rather than words....
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Crossing the Corran River

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View from Beinn Shiantaidh. Small Isles visible in the middle distance.

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Beinn an Oir and Beinn a' Chaolais from Beinn Shiantaidh

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Approaching the summit of Beinn Shiantaidh

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Beinn an Oir and Beinn a' Chaolais

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Beinn a' Chaolais

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Beinn a' Chaolis from Beinn an Oir

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Contemplating the third Pap - Beinn a' Chaolais

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On the way back

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Houses on Jura

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End of a perfect day

In the evening, we again dined at the Jura Hotel and enjoyed a few games of pool and various Jura whiskies.

The following day was a less strenuous one - most of us headed to the picturesque Jura House Gardens, where the wild birds seem practically tame.
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Jura House Gardens

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Tame wild birds

On the Monday, I woke early and watched the 5am departure of the yacht on which a few of our party were travelling, against the stunning backdrop of the sunrise.
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Amaryllis departing at 5am

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Amaryllis on the Sound of Jura

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Sound of Jura


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GariochTom
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Posts: 142
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Location: Aberdeenshire

Re: Isle of Jura and a perfect day on the Paps

Postby Belgian_Hiker » Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:56 pm

Great report and pics !
The weather looked amazing for your trip.
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Belgian_Hiker
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Re: Isle of Jura and a perfect day on the Paps

Postby GariochTom » Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:04 pm

Great report and pics !
The weather looked amazing for your trip.


Thanks! :) Yes, we were really lucky with the weather - it was sunny all of the time, and we didn't even have to suffer from many midges!
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GariochTom
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Re: Isle of Jura and a perfect day on the Paps

Postby foggieclimber » Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:11 pm

Envious of the weather you got for these.
Great to see what these hills look like in blue-sky weather.
Big day out doing the three paps.
Thanks for posting.
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Re: Isle of Jura and a perfect day on the Paps

Postby GariochTom » Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:26 pm

foggieclimber wrote:Envious of the weather you got for these.
Great to see what these hills look like in blue-sky weather.
Big day out doing the three paps.
Thanks for posting.


:) I was surprised that I couldn't already find a walk report from Jura on this site, given how great the paps, and the island generally, are...
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GariochTom
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Posts: 142
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Re: Isle of Jura and a perfect day on the Paps

Postby Alastair S » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:57 pm

Great stuff :thumbup: Had to be last year given the summer we've had this :lol:

Only been to Jura the once and that was on my bike - we were staying at the cottages at Bunnahabhain and I cycled to the ferry (Port Askaig), got that across the Sound and then cycled to the end of the road in the north & then back the way I'd come. A long day but some stunning scenery.
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Alastair S
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Re: Isle of Jura and a perfect day on the Paps

Postby Mal Grey » Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:34 pm

Oh, how good was that! Nice report.

I still remember how outstanding the view was as we hit the ridge on Beinn an Oir, and this was nearly 30 years ago now.

Your first sunrise picture is outstanding.
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Mal Grey
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Location: Surrey, probably in a canoe! www.wildernessisastateofmind.co.uk

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