Island Information
Whether you want to find a secluded spot to relax on one of our beautiful sandy beaches or you are looking to do something a wee bit more adventurous, Gigha offers something for everyone. The island is easily explored by foot or cycle, and has a network of new paths to guide you to sites of interest including beaches, historical sites, and hidden landscapes. The Visit Gigha website has a whole host of information about what you can expect to see here and we've put together a few itineraries so you can plan your visit, whether you're here for one night or a whole week!
But first, let's focus on the most important stuff - food and drink!
Food and Drink
Ardminish Stores - Selling a whole range of supplies and open every day with reduced hours on a Sunday.
The Boathouse Restaurant - BOOK AHEAD! A special treat - open for lunch, dinner and beach-side beverages Wednesday-Sunday (and Tuesdays in peak season)
The Wee Isle Cafe - Selling a range of breakfast, lunch and cakes as well as their own fabulous ice cream, made here on the island. Open daily with hours varying during the season
The Nook Seafood Takeaway - A fabulous array of seafood streetfood to takeaway and enjoy on the beach or in the van. Opening hours vary with the season, currently open Friday evenings only but likely to be open most days in the summer.
The Gigha Hotel - Currently closed for refurbishment.
The Seafood Van - Freshly caught fish and seafood from an island-based fisherman. We're expecting the van to be back in business in the Spring and open every afternoon except Sundays and Mondays.
Sunshine Bread - BOOK AHEAD! A zero waste micro-bakery, using wholesome organic ingredients. Run entirely from a home kitchen on Gigha, all bread is baked to order in small batches to reduce food waste. Order in advance on a Tuesday to collect on a Saturday morning. To order and to see the delicious menu, please visit sunshinebread.co.uk
Honesty Box Cakes - A small blue cabinet on the left side of the road as you walk towards Achamore Gardens, suppling delicious loaf cakes, traditional tablet and rocky road. Make sure to carry some cash.
Gigha's Natural Skincare - Beautiful skincare products handmade on Gigha using only ethical, sustainable and animal friendly ingredients. Treatments are also available but advance booking is essential as they are very limited.
What's Happening on the Island
There's all sorts happening on the island, from heritage talks and wildlife walks to musical performances and ceilidhs. We'll add events here as they are announced:
- The Mad Ferret Band - Friday 12th April - a night of high energy folk music
- The Michael Garvin Trio - Saturday 11th May
- The Sound of Gigha Weekend 7th-9th June - A weekend of music, dancing, art, fun and learning.
- The Boathouse Raft Race - Saturday 29th June
- The Furboch Family Ceilidh - Saturday 3rd August
What shall we do today?
Best of Ardminish - A gentle stroll, a leisurely lunch and a sit on a beach
- Walk to Achamore Gardens and peruse honesty box gifts and cakes on the way
- Enjoy Achamore Gardens, the Walled Garden and head up the viewpoint footpath
- Stop at the Boathouse Restaurant for a long lunch
- Browse the lovely gifts and souvenirs on sale in Gigha's Natural Skincare and Ardminish Stores
- Grab an ice cream from the Wee Isle Cafe
- Wander down the road to Minister's beach for a paddle
Northern Highlights - A cycle, a walk and a swim
- Hire a bike from the Activity Centre
- Cycle to the North end of the island
- Walk the Northern Loop - check out the ancient burial cairns and secluded beaches
- Scale the North Lookout Cairn and try to spot whales across the water to Islay and Jura
- Explore the Fisherman’s Cave for old graffiti
- Swim at Eilean Garbh beaches (or the Twin Beaches as they've come to be known)
- Cycle back to the village for well deserved refreshments!
Western Adventure - A big hike to see the sights
- Follow the footpath that heads north from the campsite, and then along the road to the Drumyeonmore Farm and up the track heading west
- Scale the beautiful Creag Bhan, up to the highest point on the island, to see Gigha, Islay, Jura, Kintyre and maybe even Arran and Ireland
- Return to the track and continue west, before turning south onto the Western link footpath
- Head west to see Cuddyport and the Quernstone quarry
- And then east to the cycle path towards the windmills and down to Leim Beach
- If you've got the energy you could continue onto the Southern Loop, or head north back up the road and through Achamore Gardens
A bit of everything - A flavour of Gigha in one day
- Hire a bike from the Activity Centre
- Cycle to the North end and scale the Northern Lookout for views across to Islay, Jura and Kintyre
- Take a paddle and search for coral at the beautiful Twin Beaches
- Cycle back to the village and grab a delicious seafood takeaway from The Nook
- Walk to Achamore Gardens, making sure not to miss the walled gardens and the View Point
- Finish off the day with an island made icecream from the Wee Isle Cafe.
A 3-night stay
Day 1
Set up camp at the Isle of Gigha Camp and Motorhome Site and have a chat with us about what's happening on the island during your stay.
Stock up on supplies from the fresh fish and seafood van on the beach by the campsite and then wander up the road to the well-stocked Ardminish Stores.
Pick up a delicious seafood takeaway from The Nook and enjoy it overlooking the Bay. The prawn bap is from another world!
Work off the prawns with a evening walk up Craig Bhan, the highest point on the island, to get the lay of the land and return via the rather lovely Drumyeonbay Link footpath.
Day 2
Take a dip in Ardminish Bay to get the blood pumping before exploring the south of the island on foot.
Take a walk up past the Village Hall to the old cemetery to see the 13th Century Kilchattan Chapel, the resting place of Colonel Sir James Horlick and 15th Century chieftains.
Continue up the hill to the Ogham Stone, a standing stone holding ancient Ogham Script, written more than 1,400 years ago.
Follow the track down to the peace of Cuddyport beach, explore the quernstone quarry and enjoy a picnic sitting on the ancient harbour wall.
Extend your walk by following the paths along past the Bodach and Cailleach standing stones and down to Port na Carraigh keeping your eyes peeled for waders, seabirds and dolphins.
Continue around the southern loop, discover the Spouting Cave and finally arrive at the South Pier - where the ferry docks at night.
Return to the village along the road and treat yourself to a cake or some tablet from an honesty stall and have a little look in Gigha's Natural Skincare and maybe book in for a treatment.
It's not a holiday without ice cream, and there's fabulous stuff made right here on the island - avalable from the Wee Isle Cafe.
Dinner on the deck of The Boathouse Restaurant comes highly recommended – the menu is mainly seafood, with meat and vegetarian options also available.
And when the sun has gone, the skies will go dark and the stars will shine! You’ll see a great display wherever you are on the island, but the Dark Skies Discovery Theatre at the very north of the island has an excellent information board and is super dark.
Day 3
Today you could cycle to the north of the island to discover all it has to offer. Hire bikes (or e-bikes if you prefer) from the Activity Centre across the road from the campsite.
First stop could be a (half) round of golf at the 9-hole golf course just to the north of the village – clubs are available to borrow from the clubhouse.
Further north you'll pass Tarbert Farm (where the Wee Isle Dairy milk and ice cream comes from) and the standing stone that has become the emblem of Gigha - is it a giant's tooth, a hanging stone or a tarbert marker? Before long you'll arrive at the idyllic Garbh (or Twin) beaches for a picnic lunch and a swim in the sheltered bay.
Take a walk up to the North Lookout with views over to Jura and Islay or down to the Fishermans Cave with old engravings from bygone days.
By the time you get back to the village, you’ll be well in need of an energy boost – nothing for it but to drop into the Wee Isle Cafe for tea and cake.
If you have any energy left, it might be nice to have a late afternoon paddle about in Ardminish Bay on a kayak or a paddle board, which you can hire from the Activity Centre.
You can be sure of a good night’s sleep after all that carry on!
day 4
You've earned a relaxing final day on Gigha! Why not have breakfast at the Wee Isle Cafe before wandering along to Achamore Gardens for a stroll around its peaceful paths, pond and plants, making sure to see the walled gardens and the view point behind.
Maybe you'll have time for a late lunch at the Boathouse before boarding the ferry and making your way home or onto your next destination - and I'm sure you'll already be planning when you can come back!
