Sound of Jura

The Sound of Jura is a narrow sea passage in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies between the island of Jura to the east and the Kintyre Peninsula to the west. The sound connects several lochs, including Loch Sween and Loch Killisport, to the open sea. Most of Jura’s small population lives along its east coast, facing the water. It is often confused with the Sound of Islay, which lies further south between Jura and Islay. The north end of the Sound of Jura is dangerous, with many skerries, strong tides and whirlpools. The Gulf of Corryvreckan, at the northern entrance, holds one of the world’s most famous whirlpools. The south end is wider and calmer, where ferries to Colonsay and Islay pass close to shore. The Crinan Canal opens into the sound, offering a shortcut from Loch Fyne. Two lighthouses stand guard over the Sound of Jura. Ruadh Sgeir Lighthouse, built in 1906, marks a treacherous reef. Skervuile Lighthouse, completed in 1865, guides ships into Lowlandman’s Bay. The contrast between the wild north and the sheltered south makes the sound a striking place to see.