Achamore Gardens – an Island Garden by Ferry from Tayinloan
A few hours, from Tayinloan ferry terminal and back.
The route
Gigha is a small, green island off the west coast of Kintyre, twenty minutes by ferry from Tayinloan, and its Achamore Gardens hold a famous collection of rhododendrons and camellias planted from 1944 and now cared for by the islanders.
A walk of 20 to 30 minutes from the slip takes you through the village to the woodland garden, the walled garden and a viewpoint over to Islay and Jura. It's a gentle island day, with no need to take the car across.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is The Hollies, 24 miles away. Sleeps 18.
The day
Gigha
A short crossing, a walk through Ardminish, and a couple of hours among the island's sheltered woodland gardens before the boat back.
About four hours
The ferry from Tayinloan to Gigha
Leave the car in the free ferry car park at Tayinloan and cross on foot. There's no booking for foot passengers: buy your ticket at the port or on board, £7.40 return for adults and £3.70 for children aged 5 to 15, under-5s free, at the time of writing. Be at the slip 10 minutes before the boat. The summer timetable runs until 18 October and the winter one from 19 October to 25 March; in both, boats leave Tayinloan on the hour through the morning, and the 11am sailing suits this day on any day of the week. Check CalMac's timetable for the season and its service status on the morning, as wind can stop the boat. No boats sail on 25 December or 1 January, nor on a few winter Sundays set aside for the ferry's maintenance.
30 min on foot
Achamore Gardens
It's a walk of 20 to 30 minutes from the slip: up over the cattle grid into Ardminish, left at the village shop, past the craft units and the hotel, and straight on to the garden's sign. The gardens are open all year, but close in winds over 40mph; the garden's Facebook page posts any closure. Entry is £10 for adults, children free, paid at the honesty box in cash or by contactless card. Sir James Horlick began the collection of rhododendrons and camellias here in 1944, and the islanders now own and restore it. Paths wind through sheltered woodland to the walled garden, and a short climb up the ridge to its west gives a view of Islay and Jura on a clear day. Dogs are welcome on a lead, and there are toilets by the walled garden. Bring a picnic for the day.
About 25 min on foot
The ferry from Gigha to Tayinloan
Walk the same way back to the slip. The boats back leave Gigha at 2.30pm and 3.30pm. Until 18 October the last boat back is at 5.30pm from Monday to Saturday (6.30pm on Fridays) and 4.30pm on Sundays. From 19 October it's 5.05pm from Monday to Saturday, and on Sundays 2.30pm, with a 3.30pm sailing only if it's requested by 2pm the day before on 0800 066 5000. Miss the last one and nothing sails until the next morning.
If it rains
Rain changes little beyond bringing an umbrella: the garden's woodland gives some shelter, and the crossing is under cover. Wind, not rain, is what shuts the garden (over 40mph) and stops the ferry: check CalMac's service status and the garden's Facebook page on the morning.
Where to stay
Photographs by Sharon Hiley, Gary Thomson and wully donald via Google