Summer Holiday 2011

Due to the ongoing uncertainty of my employment status we couldn't plan any big holidays this year - we have had some incredible holiday moments over the last 3 years so we weren't too put out. But we did however manage to get a break down in Carradale for a week. As usual this involved a lot of relaxing, walking, visiting, eating and drinking. All of which we are very good at.

We did decide to spice things up this time with a long overdue trip to Gigha - a community owned wee island reachable by short ferry journey from Tayinloan, not far from Campbeltown. Neither of us had been to Gigha so it was quite exciting - we weren't even put off by the troops of obese Glaswegian families who seemed to have had the same idea as us.

To suggest that there is nothing to do on Gigha would be unfair - there are lots of things to do on Gigha............if you are expecting high octane exciting things to do however then you are going to be disappointed.

I am speechless in the fabulous gardens.

Katie posing with an amazing plant (whose name i can't remember but it looks like a big rhubarb plant)

The most famous thing to do on Gigha is to visit the World famous Achamore Gardens - they apparently have more species of Rhododendron than anywhere else. (Yawn) I cannot get myself excited about plants unfortunately and as such the greatness of these gardens was completely lost on me. I am sure however if you like lots of plants and trees, and possess the ability and willingness to tell the difference between them, then this is the place for you......a kind of Disneyland for Gardners.

Once we had completed the 2 hour walking route (completed in 40mins) we went for a wander around some other parts of Gigha. We were going to hire bikes but the one place on the island that rents them out didn't have any left - how crazy is that?

We went in search of a secluded beach away from the other 6 people on the island and scrambled over some rocks around the coast. We're glad we did because turning the corner we spotted a group of seals on some rocks which is always a crowd pleaser.

We walked a wee bit further, found a beach and decided to go for a swim (we'd brought our swimming gear with us). It was a warm day but the water was freezing...we waded in anyway. We weren't far from the seals and one of them jumped in and swam over towards us - thankfully it turns out it wasn't a killer seal. Quite amazing being so close though.

Katie uses the binoculars to look at the seals.

The seals on the rocks.

Katie returning from her swim and close encounter with a seal.

With the day drawing to a close and the last ferry sailing almost due we decided to head back in. The tide had moved in more quickly than we had realised and it made the return walk a little but more interesting but I suppose that's what going off the beaten track is all about, adventure!

The Gigha Ferry.

We'll be back on Gigha one day I think, it is beautiful but I'll probably take a book. ;o)

Upon our return to Carradale there was a bag hung on the back door handle - it was a full bag of prawns left by Katie's Uncle Alen. Katie was delighted but then had to spend an hour topping and tailing the still live prawns. Seafood doesn't come much fresher than down Carradale way.

Carradale prawns.

Katie and her prawns.

Check out the size of this!

I didn't eat any prawns as the jury is still out on whether I have a shellfish allergy or not. This photo however does show how much sun we got in Gigha, I was a bit burnt.