Some 16
miles south of Tarbert is the village of Tayinloan where a
30 minute ferry journey will take you to the beautiful
island of Gigha. It is community owned, i.e, owned by the
people for the people. Because of this there is a great
sense of achievement and positivity.
Although the island is not very big being about seven miles
long and only a mile and a half wide, the scenery and
beaches are idyllic, the welcome warm and there are many
things to do and see. Gigha has a golf course of 9 holes
situated at Tarbert Farm. Although a small course it is
enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. The island is the most
southerly of the inner Hebrides and is quite a bit warmer
than most. Because of this plants thrive and the vegetation
on the island is superb. The gardens at Achamore are also
well worth a visit.
ISLAY
Only 6 miles South of Tarbert is Kennacraig ferry terminal
where a 3 hour trip will take you to Islay - world famous
for its malt whisky (boasting 8 distilleries in total). The
history of the buildings and equipment alone makes a
distillery a must see on any visit. The islands main
communities are at Bowmore, the most central of them, Port
Ellen in the south, and Port Charlotte and Portnahaven in
the west. Islay also has its fair share of ancient
monuments, interesting ruins and other historic and
architectural features which are worth seeing. South of Port
Ellen lies the massive of the Oa Peninsula. The peninsula is
awesome with huge cliffs and the occasional sandy inlet. It
also has many pre clearances ruins and also some stone-age
stones worth seeing. There is also a very large memorial to
over 400 American servicemen who perished in the sea when
the SS Tuscania was sunk by a U boat in 1918. Islay is also
famed for its birdlife with many rare species such as chough
and greylag geese.
ARRAN
On the East side of Kintyre lies the Island of Arran. From
October to March, the ferry to Arran departs directly from
Tarbert and in the summer months, it leaves from Claonaig –
some 10 miles away. The island is 19 miles long by 10 miles
wide and has a remarkable diversity of land- and seascapes.
Arran is renowned for its wildlife and many species are a
common sight, including basking sharks off the shores to roe
deer on the hills. The island sits beneath the magnificent
Goat Fell – at 874 metres the highest of the 4 Corbetts on
the Island. As well as 7 Golf Courses, Arran is a truly
fantastic place for walking and cycling. The pretty Coastal
villages are complemented by a rugged and mountainous
interior in the north and green rolling hills and woodland
in the south.
PORTAVADIE AND COWAL
You don’t need to be a Sailor to appreciate the new Portavadie Marina and surrounding countryside. Travel as a
foot passenger on the ferry from Tarbert and within 30
minutes, you can enjoy a leisurely meal, snack or just a
coffee at the Marina where, in nice weather, there is an
almost Mediterranean atmosphere on the patio decking. For
the more energetic, there are some lovely forest walks
adjacent to the Ferry terminal.
Alternatively, take your car across and explore the Cowal
peninsula and the towns and villages within it. Kames is a
quaint village with a nice hotel and a golf course. Dunoon
is Cowal’s busiest town with a good selection of shops.
Millhouse is famed for the Millcroft Lavender with
various products available from the little craft shop in the
village. Tighnabruaich is a good lunch stops and one of the
places where the paddle steamer, Waverley, calls in
