Hike to the Jura Distillery water source!

A hike to the water source for the Jura Distillery is a great way to experience the wild side of this remote island in the Inner Hebrides. The views are spectacular, and the accomplishment will give you loads of street cred with your fellow whisky friends!

From the town of Craighouse, you will need approximately 3-4 hours roundtrip to complete the journey. Head west on the only road, pass the warehouse and the newly minted houses (both on the right side), and continue until you find a forest management road on your right. As you look that way you will see the pine forest on your left, and about halfway up a waterfall. Head on up!

The path is fairly wide, but can get narrow the farther up you go. The forest, stream, and waterfall will remain on your left side the whole time. Eventually you will go higher than all of these features, and be on to the wide-open hillside. Turn around to take in the mainland of Argyll, and just peaking over all of that in the distance is the isle of Arran.

You will have to pass through a gated turnstile, and then just keep going up. A stone fence starts to be your reference point, and keep that on your left.

The source of the waterfall becomes very apparent as a stream starts to command your attention and the ground becomes soggier. Nimble footwork is required to try to stay dry. The stream becomes more steady higher up, and you can see that there is structure to the channel and the outlet portion of the loch that is now visible.

You have made it! The water source for the Jura Distillery. The water will travel several hundred feet down and a couple miles away, and will be key to making the delicious whisky.

Let us know how the hike went! Slàinte!