Welcome toGigha
A tiny island with beautiful gardens, craft shops and the home of Gigha smoked halibut.
More about Gigha
Ideal for:
History & heritage
Nature & wildlife
Cycling
Walking
Sunny and mild, with exceptional gardens
The tiny, community owned island of Gigha - is the most southerly of the Hebridean islands. Just 20 minutes on the ferry from Tayinloan, it measures only 7 miles long and 1.5 miles at its widest. It's home to the impressive Achamore Gardens - purchased by John Horlicks in the 1940s, and the mix of his rhododendrons and other sub-tropical plants with the Gulf Stream means this part of the world pops with colour at various points of the year. With its pure, clear green waters, it's known for its good food and drink - whether that's freshly caught seafood - or island farmed halibut, oysters or whole milk ice cream from Gigha's Wee Isle Dairy.
Why not try Taste of Place Trails .
Prior to your journey, familiarise yourself with VisitScotland's #RespectProtectEnjoy guidance and check the arrangements individual islands and locations have for managing the safety of their visitors and communities. For Argyll and Bute, please read through the area's 'Be a great Visitor' guidance.
Take care on our coast: slips and falls can happen in all locations, not just high cliffs. Check out these RNLI Safety Tips #RespectTheWater
For more on Gigha visit Explore Argyll and Explore Kintyre website.
How to get here
The Gigha ferry departs from Tayinloan on the west coast of the Kintyre peninsula. The journey takes 20 minutes. You can purchase tickets in advance of travel, online.
Tayinloan to Gigha is a Turn up and Go route - when you pre-purchase tickets on this route, you'll be purchasing an 'open' ticket for a chosen departure date, valid for the season in which you've purchased it, but it won't have a specific sailing time. Simply turn up at the port of departure and go No advance booking is necessary on this sailing. Simply turn up at the port of departure, go on the next available sailing and buy a ticket on board.
Looking for the best form of travel to and from our ports? Our Journey Planner can help you find the way that best suits you for making your journey using the most up to date information from around the UK for all transport companies.
We have also listed some travel information below that you may find useful:
If you're travelling from Edinburgh or the south, most routes will take you through Glasgow.
Getting to Tayinloan
Tayinloan is roughly 120 miles from Glasgow. You can drive round on the mainland, or you can see more of the islands by hopping across to Bute or Arran and getting the ferries towards Kintyre from there.
In the summer, you can get a ferry from Ardrossan to Campbeltown, and drive north.
By car
The drive from Glasgow to Tayinloan takes roughly 2 hours 50 minutes.
Helpful tips for driving on Gigha
Video transcript - How to drive on single track roads
Postcode for sat nav
Tayinloan Port: PA29 6XG
Travelling without a car
By bus
Catch the bus from Glasgow towards Campbeltown, and get off at Tayinloan. The journey is about 3 hours 50 minutes. Check our Journey Planner for bus times.
By Foot
Gigha is a small island, only seven miles long by a mile and a half wide, making it ideal for exploring on foot. Gigha is green and fertile with some of the most beautiful beaches of the area. You will also find prehistoric standing stones and stunning views over the water to Islay and Jura or back towards the mainland Kintyre. The world-famous Achamore Gardens are well worth a gentle stroll around the 50 acres of woodlands, ponds, walled garden and rare and interesting plants and trees. For more information about what to see on the Isle of Gigha visit Explore Argyll .
By Bike
Due to its small size and relatively flat landscape Gigha is perfect for cyclists looking for a fun day out. There are some small hills to add challenge, spectacular changing landscapes and stunning views out across the water to the mainland and neighbouring islands. Bike hire is available on the island for those who prefer to travel light, check out Explore Argyll for further details.
If you're bringing your bike, please add your bike(s) to your booking, - this means that you have more certainty about space. This ticket will remain free of charge.
To plan your bike journey, visit CycleStreets .