Isles of Islay, Jura & Colonsay area information

Islay is the most southern Island of the Outer Hebrides, with a size of approximately 25 miles (north to south) and 20 miles (east to west). It is an almost treeless island, and, unlike its close neighbour Jura, it is rather flat.

Bowmore is the island’s capital and the administrative centre, and also the largest settlement on the island. Further main villages are Port Askaig and Port Ellen, the overall population counts just around 4000 people.

Thanks to the Gulf stream, the climate is fairly temperate and abets a rich flora and fauna, including a variety of rare birds. The scenery is impressive, and changes between empty sandy beaches, rocky coastlines, remote settlements in small valleys, embedded between rolling hills and forests.



North-east of Islay lies the island of Jura, separated from each other just by a narrow band of water. Jura stretches about 28 miles long and 8 miles wide, 3 adjacent mountain tops dominate most of the land (they’re called the “The Paps”) and give the island a unique silhouette. Most of Jura is uninhabited, only about 200 people live here, vastly outnumbered by the more than 5000 deer. Details are to be found under www.juradevelopment.co.uk.

Last island in this group and also the smallest and most northerly is Colonsay. Its dimensions are only about 10 miles by 2 miles, with Skalasaig being the main settlement. On a clear day you can see the coast of Northern Ireland to the south-west, and when it’s really, really clear, you can see Canada…
For more information on the island, visit www.colonsay.org.uk