Good morning from Campbeltown! A very cool and windy day looking east toward Davaar Island and the sun - when it peaks its head out.
Today we traveled to Tayinloan (Ten lowan) where we caught the ferry to Gigha, the southernmost Hebridean island, situated three miles off the west coast of the Kintyre Peninsula. You can see it here in the foreground with the Paps of Jura showing behind.
Gigha is a community-owned island since 2002. The old estate of Achamore is publicly accessible, especially the gardens. The estate house is for sale.
The gardens on the estate have been allowed to become overgrown and unkempt. That said there are many varieties of plants I had never seen before - like this strange thing (gunera manicata) growing everywhere. Many of the plants seemed to be natives of South America.
Blue strolling down the avenue of camellias. The person responsible for planning this garden also went wild over rhodedendron - there were amazing varieties all through the forest.
This is the outer wall of a walled garden - reminded me of The Secret Garden. The amount of biomass growing on the stone walls is amazing - and the primrose grows wild everywhere here.
On the estate grounds is the ruins of Kilchatten, a church built in honor of St. Cathan, plus a cemetery. It dates from the 15th century and was once paved with more than 30 grave slabs. The church was replaced in the 18th century and this one has gone to ruin in the ensuing years. The cemetery seems current.
Most early churches in Scotland were built near ancient worship sites and this was no different. Situated just above the church is this standing stone. One side features Ogham script; however we were unable to distinguish any of the markings as the stone is covered in moss. The yellow flowers surrounding the stone are gorse bushes, also known as whin. They smell just like coconut.
http://www.gigha.org.uk