This takes you to the breathtakingly beautiful bay at Cuddyport. A small sandy beach, popular with sea birds, and also the chance to search for the remains of a quern quarry.
Summary
Minor road, track and path, scramble over rocks to the quern quarry.
Terrain
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1. This walk is described from the ferry but could easily be picked up in Ardminish. From the ferry terminal follow the road along the coast and slightly uphill. Just past the lane to the left which leads to the Boathouse cafe head past the cairn made from visitor's stones and into the field. Follow the grassy path across the field and over a stile to emerge on the main road opposite the Gigha Hotel. The island was the subject of a community buy out in 2003 and since then the community has run the hotel, Achamore Gardens, as well as undertaking major housing and windfarm projects.
2. Turn left along the, usually quiet, road and follow it past the houses at Ardminish until a sign for Achamore Gardens indicates a right turn. The gardens here consist of 50 acres of interesting planting which benefits from the relatively mild and sunny climate enjoyed by Gigha due to the North Atlantic drift that warms the low lying island. The gardens were mainly planted by Sir James Horlick (of the late-night beverage fame and wealth) and includes a huge rhododendron collection as well as a walled garden and two walking trails to explore. The garden can easily be taken in as an extension to this walk (allow at least an hour - there is an entrance fee) either now or on the way back. Turn right to go past the entrance to the gardens and also the village hall on the right and climb the road uphill.
3. Pass Kilchattan graveyard on your right. Christianity came to Gigha around 563 AD when St Columba visited on his way from Ireland to Iona. Keep left at a fork to pass a house on the right and then a newer one on the left. Continue down the track and go over a cattle grid following a sign for Cuddyport Beach and ignoring a gated track to the right.
4. At the next junction turn left through double farm gates along a track and then straight across a field. Don't go through the gate but turn right along the fence until you reach the house where you turn left through double gates to follow a short path down to the shore. Turn right to follow a rough shore path to the beautiful beach at Cuddyport, crossing a stile on the way.
5. If you want to find the quarry where quern stones used for grinding corn, were carved out of the rock, return to the spot where you came down from the house and keep straight on and then bear right along a faint path over the small headland keeping on the right side. The slabs on the right have the circular marks where the quern stones were chipped out by hand. To return, retrace your steps past the house and back to the track until you reach the village hall. Immediately after the hall, take a signed path to the left through the trees. This path winds through the woods until it emerges onto the main road. Turn left to return to the village and then right at the post office to head back to the ferry terminal.
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