UK’s best-kept secret boasts Caribbean-style beaches, and a blissful peace away from the crowds

With the busy Christmas season fast approaching, you might already be dreaming about escaping somewhere peaceful.

There’s one tiny island just off the UK coast where calm and quiet are practically guaranteed.

This hidden gem, only seven miles long and home to around 160 people, sits just off the Kintyre Peninsula and is one of Scotland’s beautiful Inner Hebrides islands.

Photo © Stuart Wilding (cc-by-sa/2.0)

A short ferry ride from Tayinloan on the mainland takes just 20 minutes. As the island’s roads are mostly single-track, many visitors suggest leaving the car behind and exploring on foot or by bike to really enjoy the views.

On Instagram, traveller @walkswithlissy described their summer visit: “We spent the day exploring the beaches, paddleboarding across crystal-clear waters, collecting shells and watching the sunset.

The island’s history, from its Norse roots to its welcoming community, made the trip unforgettable. One of my favourite day trips ever.”

Gigha has a warm, community spirit. In 2002, after years of frustration with landlords, residents bought the island themselves, making it a community-owned paradise. It’s easy to see why they fought to keep it.

With white sands and turquoise waters, Gigha’s Twin Beaches in the north could easily be mistaken for the Caribbean, while the quiet Cuddyport Beach in the west is home to all kinds of coastal wildlife, including oystercatchers.

Photo © Gordon Brown (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Near Cuddyport sits Achamore House, a grand old mansion turned into a charming hotel. Its gardens are famous for their bursts of colour in spring, with rare flowers from as far as Central America and New Zealand thriving thanks to Gigha’s mild climate.

The island is also known for its handmade cheese. Gigha’s cheddar-style cheese is produced using milk from local cows, and the island’s fruit cheese is a unique treat to take home.

It comes in flavours like apple and pear, often mixed with whisky, garlic or other unusual ingredients.

Seafood lovers will also be in heaven here. Fresh catches such as mussels, lobsters and crabs arrive daily from local fishing boats.

For the best of the bunch, head to The Boathouse, a rustic seaside restaurant where guests can dine outdoors with a view of the bay. Their ever-changing ‘fresh in’ menu highlights what’s been caught that day, from oysters to crab.

Remember - LeaveNoTrace!

As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!

Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.

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