Isle of Jura Fell Race

The Isle of Jura Fell Race is an annual fell race held in May, starting and finishing at Craighouse on the Scottish island of Jura. The course loops west and north over several hills including the Paps of Jura. After the last climb to Corra Bheinn, a boggy descent takes the runners down to the tarmac coastal road which is followed for the final three miles to the finish. The route is approximately 17 miles (27 km) in length, with around 2,350 metres (7,710 ft) of ascent. As well as being known for the very difficult rocky and boggy terrain involved, the race is notable for its remoteness. The journey to the start of the race typically involves a ferry journey from the Scottish mainland to Islay, followed by another ferry to Jura and then several miles by bicycle, by bus or on foot to Craighouse.

Many runners stay on the island for several days around the time of the event, attending the cèilidh held in conjunction with the race and experiencing other attractions of Jura. A report of the 1997 race noted that three-quarters of the runners who started the race were running for English clubs.

British fell running champions Ian Holmes and Angela Mudge have both identified Jura as one of their favourite races.

Due to the striking contrast between the rough terrain of the majority of the course and the final section on the road, runners have in some cases changed from fell running shoes to road running shoes for the latter part in an attempt to run more efficiently on the tarmac. However, the action of changing shoes during the race has sometimes led to cramp.

The inaugural race took place in 1973, when it was called the Bens of Jura Fell Race. The founder was George Broderick who, after recognising the potential for a tough fell race on the island during a visit there in 1970, returned the following year to carry out further investigation. It was intended to hold the first race in 1972, with the Glasgow and Strathclyde Officers' Training Corps having agreed to control the radio communications for the race. However, difficulty in securing suitable rescue cover for the day of the race led to postponement until 14 July 1973. The event was held again in both 1974 and 1975 but a low number of entries for the 1976 race, coupled with concerns over the dependability of the safety cover on the mountain summits, resulting in the race being cancelled.

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