This takes you to the breathtakingly beautiful bay at Cuddyport. This small sandy beach is an idyllic spot on a fine summers day. The walk also gives the chance to search for the remains of a quernstone quarry.
Minor road, track and path, scramble over rocks to the quernstone quarry.
Bus to Taylinoan; ferry to Gigha.
Gigha ferry terminal.
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Warning: Access is no longer possible to the path at stage 4 of this walk. Access to the original path promoted by the island Community Trust has been blocked at the house's parking area. Instead there is a path to an alternative part of the shore reached by heading straight ahead through the gate mentioned earlier in Stage 4. It may then be possible to continue round the rough shore towards Cuddyport beach and the quarry, though other correspondents have informed us that this is difficult and rough going.
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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. Ignore a lane on the left that leads to the Boathouse cafe / restaurant, and continue up the road to reach a t-junction. Turn left here, following the road past the Gigha Hotel and the craft workshop. 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 social housing and windfarm projects.
After 1km from the t-junction, turn right up a track. After a short distance a path on the left leads to the entrance to Achamore Gardens, 50 acres of rhododendrons, azaleas and camelias benefiting from the relatively mild and sunny climate enjoyed by Gigha. 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. To continue the walk, keep along the track, passing the village hall on the right and climbing uphill.
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, then follow the track as it swings back right past a bungalow. Continue down the main track, ignoring a track off right and instead crossing a cattle grid and following a sign for Cuddyport Beach.
At the next junction 600m further on turn left, passing through two gateways along a track towards a white house. At a field keep straight across, now on a faint grassy track. Don't go through the gate ahead, instead bearing right towards the house. Turn left through double gates to follow a short path that leads along the outside of the garden fence and down to the shore. Turn right to follow a rough shore path to the beautiful beach at Cuddyport, crossing a stile along the way.
If you want to find the quarry where quernstones (used for grinding corn) were carved out of the rock, return to where you first reached the shore. Keep straight on and then bear right along a faint path over the small headland, keeping on the right side. Towards the far end, the she slabs on the right sloping down to the sea have many circular marks and half-cut querns on the seaward side. Return to the start of the walk by retracing your steps.
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