The Isle of Gigha is the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides. Fringed by sandy beaches and turquoise waters, this lesser-known Scottish island’s history dates back to the pre-Christian era. If you love the outdoors and have a knack for history, there are lots of things to do on Gigha.
Isle of Gigha | Scotland
Gigha’s newly opened campsite was teeming with visitors that weekend for The Sound of Gigha, Gigha’s very own music festival. The weather was glorious! The season of thrift and gorse was over, and foxgloves fought for space all over the campsite.
The little island has people with the largest hearts. We were sitting on the beach one evening, drinking gin and tonic, when a group of men playing music on a loudspeaker came up to us and offered us wine. They turned out to be part of the organising team and the lead musicians from the festival! That led to an hour-long conversation, including an invitation for us to buy the one house that was for sale on the island. I probably would have agreed were it not so far from the office. And the fact that it wasn’t free.
One morning at the newly opened Wee Isle Cafe, we met the owner who took us on a tour of Wee Isle Dairy and the workshop where he produces one of the best ice creams we have ever had: Wee Isle Ice Cream. Don Dennis had lived in the Silicon Valley and in England a long time ago but moved to the Isle of Gigha where he bought the Achamore House and joined his partner’s dairy business. Today, Wee Isle Dairy produces award-winning milk and ice creams.
Isle of Gigha Highlights
- Walk or cycle to scenic beaches such as the Twin Beaches and Cuddyport Beach where white sands and turquoise waters welcome you
- Visit historic standing stones and ancient ruins
- Eat fresh seafood such as Gigha oysters and queenies at a Michelin-starred restaurant
- Star-gaze from a dark sky discovery site in the north of Gigha
- Isle of Gigha is easily accessible by public transport
Did you know that the Isle of Gigha (pronounced: Gey-aa) is one of three community-owned islands in Scotland, the other two being Eigg and Ulva?
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Where is Gigha
Gigha, also known as the Isle of Gigha, is an island located off the west coast of Kintyre. This lesser-known Scottish Island is the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides.
A Short History of Gigha
The isle of Gigha occupies a strategic location geographically and therefore its history stretches far back in time. The earliest evidence of human activity on Gigha dates back to the Mesolithic period, around 7000 BC, with the island being inhabited by hunter-gatherer communities. Later, during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, Gigha was home to farming communities that left behind various structures and artefacts. In the medieval period, Gigha was ruled by various clans and families, with the most notable being the Norse-Gaelic clan MacDonald. They built several castles and forts on the island, some of which can still be seen today. In the 19th century, Gigha became known for its thriving slate industry, which provided employment and economic stability for the island’s residents. However, the industry declined towards the end of the century, leading to a period of economic hardship.
In 2002, Gigha made headlines when it became the first Scottish island to be successfully bought by its residents through a community buyout scheme. Since then, the island has undergone a revitalization, with efforts to improve infrastructure, tourism, and sustainability.
Why Visit Gigha
Because it is perfect! With its sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters, the Isle of Gigha is one of Scotland’s most beautiful destinations. Scroll down to find out the best things to do on Gigha.
ACCESSIBILITY / Gigha is one of Scotland’s most accessible islands. CityLink bus 926 to Campbeltown will drop you at Tayinloan. The bus ride takes about 3 hours from Glasgow. The ferry port is a 10-minute walk from the bus stop.
FOOD / Fresh seafood straight from cold Atlantic waters.
SCENERY / The best things come in small packages and Gigha is truly a pocket-sized powerhouse. Think woods full of gorse and foxgloves, gardens fragrant with flowers, turquoise waters, and shimmering beaches. Need we say more?
PEOPLE / Some of the friendliest people in Scotland live on Gigha. Period.
Also read: Another easily accessible and more popular Scottish island is the Isle of Arran which is fondly known as Scotland in miniature. Here you can climb Goatfell, the island’s highest mountain, explore glens and beaches, and see a dinosaur footprint! Check out our post, Isle of Arran Travel Guide: Things to do on Arran, for a complete travel guide to Arran.
How to Reach Gigha by Public Transport
CalMac connects Tayinloan on the mainland to Ardminish, the largest settlement on Gigha. Tayinloan is served by Citylink 926 which runs from Glasgow to Campbeltown. Gigha’s easy accessibility makes it a fantastic car-free Scottish island destination.
From Glasgow: In theory, there are multiple routes from Glasgow but only one is efficient.
- Route 1 (Recommended): Take the Citylink 926 from Buchanan Bus Station to Tayinloan, then a CalMac ferry to Gigha. The entire journey takes around 4 hours.
- Route 2 (Summer only and if you desire a long ferry ride): From Glasgow, take the train to Ardrossan, then the ferry to Campbeltown, then a bus to Tayinloan, and finally the ferry to Gigha.
- Route 3 (If you have all the time in the world): Ride the train from Glasgow to Gourock, then take the ferry to Dunoon Pier, and then a bus to Portavardie. From here, ride the ferry to Tarbert, then Citylink 926 to Tayinloan, then the ferry to Gigha! This can take anywhere between 6 – 10 hours depending on connections but on the plus side, you get to see a lot of Argyll.
From Oban: Take the bus to Ardrishaig, then Citylink 926 to Tayinloan.
Things to do on the Isle of Gigha
Don’t be fooled by its size! There are lots of wonderful things to do on Gigha.
Explore the Gorgeous Beaches
Gigha’s beaches are truly gorgeous! Clear waters in countless shades of blue, fine sandy beaches, and secret coves strewn with seaweed and dotted with wildflowers are the hallmarks of Gigha’s coastline. Two of the best beaches on the island are Bagh na Doirlinne and Cuddyport Beach but if you wander around on foot or bike you will come across many more unspoilt stretches of sand to explore. The beaches and coves here are some of the best wild swimming locations out there. One of the islanders told us that the Late Queen Elizabeth II and her daughter, Princess Anne, visited Gigha on their trips to Scotland many moons ago to swim at the Twin Beaches.
Visit Achamore Gardens
When Colonel Sir James Horlick arrived in Gigha in 1944 as the new laird, he set about creating a home for rare and exotic plant species in what is now the Achamore Gardens, and thanks to the Gulf Stream which creates a mild micro-climate on the island, his dream was a success. Earlier, the area was mostly woodland and provided cover for rabbits, pheasants, and other game, and the walled garden was used as a vegetable patch. Today, Achamore Garden has numerous species of rhododendrons, hydrangeas, ferns, pines, and fuchsias. One of the best things to do on Gigha is to climb up to the viewpoint on the natural ridge that runs along the west of the garden to enjoy mesmerizing views of Islay and Jura. Sunsets are absolutely stunning from here.
Also read: Love gardens? How about exploring the Royal Botanics in Edinburgh? With its world-famous collection of snowdrops and rhododendrons, a visit to the Botanics is one of the best free things to do in Edinburgh.
Spend some time in Ardminish
The lovely village of Ardminish is Gigha’s main settlement. With only a handful of houses, everybody knows each other and within hours of arriving, passers-by were waving at us and we were waving at them as if we lived all our lives on the island. We wandered around, walked the bike path that hugs the eastern edge of the village, picked up some delicious brownies and a walnut cake from the honesty box, explored the coves, and had a relaxing time.
Walk or Cycle on Gigha
No doubt, this is the best thing to do on Gigha! Gigha has some amazing new walking/cycling paths that will take you around the island, and because it is such a small island, you can explore it all on foot. Or, cycle. Bring your own or hire one from the shop near the ferry port. These are some of our favourite walks on the Isle of Gigha:
When we visited, some of Gigha’s walking paths were still under construction. You can get a map with detailed routes at the campsite. Or, you can use this interactive map.
NORTH END & TWIN BEACHES / This 16 km walk takes you to the northernmost tip of Gigha where you can ascend a hillock for fantastic views of Islay and Jura. Next on the walk are the famed Twin Beaches of Gigha. On a sunny day, the Twin Beaches are divine! The southern beach, Bagh Rubha Ruaidh, has to deal with seaweeds but the north-facing beach, Bagh na Doirlinne, is heavenly. Imagine tropical blue waters and a soft sandy crescent beach shimmering in the sun. Because Gigha is still an offbeat destination in Scotland and not many people visit this Scottish island, the beach is unspoilt. We had it to ourselves and spent an afternoon lounging on the sand watching a small group of people having fun on their wee canoe.
SOUTH COAST CIRCULAR / The South Coast Circular is a 10 km loop that takes you to some of Gigha’s archaeological sites such as the Bodach and Cailleach stones, two pre-Christian era standing stones, and unspoilt beaches and coves at the southern tip of the island. The walk starts in Ardminish, then goes past the historic Kilchattan Church and onwards to the scenic Cuddyport Beach. Because the path runs through working farms, beware of cattle here, particularly in spring and early-summer, and especially if you have dogs. You can see the windmills- the three dancing ladies of Gigha- from here. Continue along the path as it goes round the southern tip of Gigha from where you can see Cara Island and returns to Ardminish.
CARA ISLAND: Cara Island lies to the south of Gigha. It is uninhabited but was once settled by crofters and witnessed violent clashes between McDonalds and Campbells. According to local legends, Cara island is home to the Broonie, a household sprite with the power to help or cause trouble depending on his changing moods! It is said that if the Broonie was in a good mood, islands could wake up to find the housework mysteriously done or return to the island to find their cows had been milked. But the Broonie also had the power to whip up a storm or land a punch with his invisible fist. If you visit Cara, be sure to remove your hat and wish him a good day to avoid trouble!
Visit Kilchattan Church & Other Historic Sites
Built in the 13th century, Kilchattan Church is dedicated to St Cathan, one of several 6th century Irish missionaries who travelled throughout the Hebrides. Only ruins start today. The gravestones have lost their carvings and markings but you can still see the gravestone of Malcolm, a 15th century chieftain, who gained Gigha when the Lord of the Isles resigned Kintyre.
The Isle of Gigha’s history goes back thousands of years and the island has many historic sites such as the pre-Christian era standing stones, Bodach and Cailleach (the old man and old woman in Gaelic), who are said to walk the heaths of Gigha at noon and night. Another important site is the Ogham stone which has inscriptions in the ancient Ogham script.
Spend a Night Star Gazing
One of the best things to do on Gigha is star gazing. According the website, “A site at the north of the island has been named as a Dark Sky Discovery Site by the UK Dark Sky Discovery Partnership. Gigha’s site is Milky Way class, the highest designation, because it is possible to see our galaxy, the Milky Way, very clearly on a dark cloudless night. This award makes the Isle of Gigha one of the top twenty most remote zones in Scotland which have been designated as a Dark Sky Discovery Site in the Milky Way class.” Visit in the winter to see the best of the starry skies, and perhaps some northern lights too. There is an interpretation board and some benches to encourage you to explore the skies.
Savour Seafood
One of the best things to do on Gigha is eat! Seafood in Gigha is a different thing altogether: Caught fresh and bought straight off the boats. I have never had seafood that fresh. I have been intimated by fish and meat all my life but on Gigha, I gorged on everything from queenies to crayfish, lobster to octopus and enjoyed every bite. Everything we ate tasted heavenly!
Also read: The East Neuk of Fife is known for the best fish n’ chips on the east coast of Scotland. Read about the best places to eat in the East Neuk of Fife to plan an excellent foodie weekend.
Enjoy The Sound of Gigha
Gigha’s music festival, the Sound of Gigha, is a great opportunity to explore the Hebridean music scene and interact with the locals. Held on a weekend in the summer, usually in June, this lovely festival features music shows, crafts, local food, and ceilidhs. If you are visiting in summer, this is certainly one of the best things to do on Gigha.
Where to Eat on Gigha
The food on Gigha was some of the freshest, most delicious we have ever had. We particular loved eating at The Nook, a seafood takeaway dishing up wonderful dishes as Prawns Bap, Crayfish Cocktail, and Octopus Tacos at very reasonable rates. On our post, Best Places to Eat on The Isle of Gigha, you can find our top recommendations for best restaurants on Gigha.
Where to Stay on Gigha
There are only a handful of places to stay on Gigha. Book well in advance to avoid disappointments!
GIGHA CAMPSITE / Located right next to the ferry port, the Gigha campsite was constructed recently. This is where we stayed and it is one of the best campsites we have stayed at. Extremely well-maintained and tidy, the campsite has spaces for small, medium, and large tents as well as a few electric hook-ups for caravans. Showers and toilets are available. Also, on-site is a wee shed with a microwave (10/10 for making life for backpackers so much easier!) and charging points.
ISLE OF GIGHA FARMHOUSE / Travelling with a group? The Isle of Gigha Farmhouse has you covered! This spacious holiday home can accommodate 8 guests and has fantastic views.
ARDMINISH HOUSE / This holiday home offers a tranquil vacation on the Isle of Gigha. If you do not want to camp, this is one of the best places to stay in Gigha.
BEACH VIEW COTTAGE / One of the best places to stay in Gigha is this cottage with fabulous sea views!
THE YURT / One of the most unique things to do on Gigha is staying in a Mongolian yurt! Located next door to Ardminish Stores, the Yurt is a one-of-a-kind experience. The handwoven yurt can accommodate four guests and features a log cabin to keep you cosy in all seasons. WiFi is also available for those of us who must absolutely share real-time photos of gorgeous Gigha!
ACHAMORE HOUSE / Set within Achamore Gardens, Achamore House is a baronial mansion featuring 12 beautifully styled rooms.
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Have you been to Gigha? What are your favourite things to do on Gigha?
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