I plan to visit the Jura distillery one day (in August), but know nothing else about the island. I'm reading that it's more rugged than Islay, though, and known for the wildlife?
Any recommendations for a wildlife tour? Preferably not too long so that I can end at the distillery :-)
I was sceptical if there would be such a thing, but a bit of digging gives-
https://www.discoverjura.co.uk/
(on a personal note it is lovely to see Alex now running tours, for many years the family ran the island public bus service very well before the contract was given to Garelochead Coaches on an underbid, how an outside company underbid islanders is a mystery and was a travesty of justice). Garelochhead do a good job, I'm not criticising them in the slightest. At least, unlike on Mull, there wasn't a bus war when a similar thing happened there and at one stage three competing companies ran on identical timetables- the old island company, the contract winner and another unsuccessful tenderer. On Jura Alex bowed out gracefully.
I'm not a tours kind of person, so I'm not recommending as such, just passing on what I can find.
Jura is a beautiful island and it would be well worth going on a short or half day tour, whatever suits, to see more of it - essentially driving up to its northern end.
That said, Islay is just as good for wildlife as Jura ( which means Deer Island- there are certainly plenty of them!)
Sea eagles, often round the Loch Gruinart RSPB reserve area though I’ ve seen them all over Islay.Otters , the ubiquitous seals, peregrines out at The Oa(a superb cliff top walk), red deer, porpoises and dolphins.There are wildlife tours on Islay that might be worth considering also.
Meant to add…there is a boat trip that goes up the north coast of Jura to see the Correivreckan whirlpool, the third largest in the world.It is a superb trip and also passes by a sea eagles nest (though check up to date description of the trip as it’s a few years ago since I did it.) The scenery is stunning and the boat anchors off the north end of Jura in a sheltered bay while a cuppa is served.
Ooh, I didn't know about the whirlpool!! And I'm reading that the boat tour goes by a 5th century monastery? I'm definitely checking that out :-D
