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| Ferry link returns to remote Jura | Ferry link returns to remote Jura |
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| By James Shaw BBC News, Jura The new ferry is a large rigid inflatable which can carry 12 passengers One of Scotland's wildest and most beautiful islands now has its first direct link to the mainland for more than 30 years. | By James Shaw BBC News, Jura The new ferry is a large rigid inflatable which can carry 12 passengers One of Scotland's wildest and most beautiful islands now has its first direct link to the mainland for more than 30 years. |
| The last ferry sailed away from Jura in the early 1970s. And the islanders cannot have imagined then that there would not be another one until after the turn of the century. | The last ferry sailed away from Jura in the early 1970s. And the islanders cannot have imagined then that there would not be another one until after the turn of the century. |
| Until recently a three-hour journey viathe neighbouring island of Islay was the only way to get to this west of Scotland location. | Until recently a three-hour journey viathe neighbouring island of Islay was the only way to get to this west of Scotland location. |
| Many people were put off visiting, despite the island's many attractions, like the rugged peaks of the Paps of Jura, its rocky coastline and the infamous Gulf of Corryvreckan whirlpool at its northernmost tip. | Many people were put off visiting, despite the island's many attractions, like the rugged peaks of the Paps of Jura, its rocky coastline and the infamous Gulf of Corryvreckan whirlpool at its northernmost tip. |
| The view from Jura looks over the Bay of Small IslesBut because of its status as a remote and marginal community, it has won about £500,000 of public money to set up new facilities in the village of Craighouse, including a tearoom and visitors' centre. | |
| These developments, along with the ferry, should make a big difference to Jura's prospects. | |
| The new ferryman, Nicol MacKinnon, says the island is already getting more visitors: "Everybody's so excited about it. It's going to give the island a huge boost." | The new ferryman, Nicol MacKinnon, says the island is already getting more visitors: "Everybody's so excited about it. It's going to give the island a huge boost." |
| The chairman of the local community council, Willie MacDonald, remembers a time when he wondered if the community would survive at all. | The chairman of the local community council, Willie MacDonald, remembers a time when he wondered if the community would survive at all. |
| A few years ago there were less than 170 people on Jura, well below what was thought to be a sustainable level. Even now he says it will be a constant struggle to secure a future for the island. | A few years ago there were less than 170 people on Jura, well below what was thought to be a sustainable level. Even now he says it will be a constant struggle to secure a future for the island. |
| In fact the population has started to grow somewhat over the last five years. It is now a little over 200. Some young people have been encouraged to return to the island to develop family crofts. | In fact the population has started to grow somewhat over the last five years. It is now a little over 200. Some young people have been encouraged to return to the island to develop family crofts. |
| Orwell masterpiece | Orwell masterpiece |
| Islanders hope the new facilities and ferry will attract more visitorsOne attraction for new visitors will be a remote farmhouse called Barnhill on the island's north east coast, where George Orwell finished his final masterpiece, 1984. He had hoped that the fresh air of the Inner Hebrides would help cure his tuberculosis. | Islanders hope the new facilities and ferry will attract more visitorsOne attraction for new visitors will be a remote farmhouse called Barnhill on the island's north east coast, where George Orwell finished his final masterpiece, 1984. He had hoped that the fresh air of the Inner Hebrides would help cure his tuberculosis. |
| But his new home was cold, damp and many miles from the nearest doctor. It was also dangerous to his health in other more dramatic ways. | But his new home was cold, damp and many miles from the nearest doctor. It was also dangerous to his health in other more dramatic ways. |
| Returning by boat from the west side of the island with his adopted son, Richard, then aged three, he was caught in the Corryvreckan whirlpool and nearly drowned. His only recorded comment afterwards on the near disaster was: "I thought we were goners". | Returning by boat from the west side of the island with his adopted son, Richard, then aged three, he was caught in the Corryvreckan whirlpool and nearly drowned. His only recorded comment afterwards on the near disaster was: "I thought we were goners". |
| Users of the new ferry - a large rigid inflatable which can carry 12 passengers and a small amount of freight - are unlikely to have such a terrifying crossing. | Users of the new ferry - a large rigid inflatable which can carry 12 passengers and a small amount of freight - are unlikely to have such a terrifying crossing. |
| Nicol MacKinnon and his father, Donnie, probably know the difficult waters around this rough jewel of an island a little better than the author of 1984. | Nicol MacKinnon and his father, Donnie, probably know the difficult waters around this rough jewel of an island a little better than the author of 1984. |