📌 Craighouse, Isle of Jura
★★★★★
Three natural land features dominate all others on the Isle of Jura: the mighty Paps. These unlikely, scree-ridden domes offer an epic, tough day walk, requiring stamina as well as navigational and hillwalking experience (and logistical planning to coincide with the ferries if you’re not already based on the island). Deep bogs, pathless terrain, long scree runs and rough boulderfields are all part and parcel of Jura’s signature walk… but so are some of Scotland’s most dramatic and unique views, so it’s essential to pick a good weather day. There’s a good chance of encountering plenty of interesting wildlife too – red deer are said to outnumber people on Jura by 30 to one. All in all, taking on the trio of tops is a memorable outing well worth the effort involved.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Approach path above the Corran River 
Looking back to the Sound of Jura 
Loch an t-Siob outflow 
Cross the Corran River on stepping stones 
Ascent of Beinn Shiantaidh 
Beinn Shiantaidh summit 
Initial descent off Beinn Shiantaidh 
Steep gully descent further down 
View north to Scrinadle from Beinn Shiantaidh’s lower slopes 
Beinn an Oir – the ascent begins from the far left side 
View back to Beinn Shiantaidh 
Looking southeast from the ascent 
Looking northeast 
Beinn an Oir summit 
Na-Garbh-lochanan 
Beinn a’ Chaolais from Beinn an Oir 
Na-Garbh-lochanan with Islay in the distance 
Red deer 
Beinn an Oir from Beinn a’ Chaolais 
Beinn a’ Chaolais summit 
Beinn Shiantaidh & Loch an t-Siob 
Adder 
Return along Loch an t-Siob
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on A846 at Knockrome turnoff, 4 mi north of Craighouse, Isle of Jura
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NR 545721
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.879020,-5.926840
🚌 Bus stops on A846 at Knockrome turnoff
🚗 Layby
📝 Key info
▶ 16 km / 10 mi | ▲ 1400 m | ⌛ 9-10 hr
Features: 💧 Loch an t-Siob’; △ Beinn Shiantaidh (757 m, “Torbett”); △ Beinn an Oir (785 m, Corbett); △ Beinn a’ Chaolais (733 m, “Torbett”)
⬤ Very tough | Approach path is very boggy in places; ascent and descent from Paps often on paths, but also sections of scree, boulderfields and steep ground (hands may be needed in one or two spots). Pathless return from base of Beinn a’ Chaolais.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise lollipop circuit with extension to Beinn a’ Chaolais. Start – Loch an t-Siob’ outflow via path southwest of Corran River – Beinn Shiantaidh – Imir an Aonaich – Beinn an Oir – Màm an t-Siob’ – Beinn a’ Chaolais – south bank of Loch an t-Siob’ – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Red deer, a large adder, lizards, newts, lots of frogs, bees, a few ticks.
Weather: Sunshine and heavy showers, sometimes windy; summits intermittently cloud covered.
July 2016
