Gigha Hotel

Ah, Christmas. It is the time for loving and giving and cooking and cleaning and dusting and tidying and doing another laundry…

Stop right there, Cinders! Because Fairy Godmother 5pm is here to wave a sparkling wand at you and magic you away from all of those festive chores.

Instead, we want to send you off to a winter wonderland island to soak up some Highland hospitality and be spoiled rotten for three nights.

Does that sound fab to you? Good, then hop inside this Christmas pudding-shaped coach and off you go…

Walking in a Gigha wonderland

Gigha is a beautiful little Hebridean isle. In winter, the frost-covered beaches, cottages and hills will make you feel as if you have landed in fairyland.

Although it feels like world away from everyday life, it is actually less than a three hour drive from Glasgow.

If the idea of a Christmas, ‘twixmas’ or New Year escape on an enchanted Scottish island appeals to you, then this Big Deal on a three night stay for two will be perfect.

You will be staying in Gigha Hotel, known for its amazing sea views, friendly staff and award-winning cuisine.

Choice of three dates

You have three festive dates to choose from, each based on two people sharing a standard twin or double room.

Option one is for a three night Christmas B&B stay from 24th to 26th December, including a three course Christmas lunch and evening buffet on the 25th.

Option two is for a three night post-Christmas stay from 28th to 30th December. It includes breakfast on each day.

Option three is for a three night New Year B&B stay from 31st December to 2nd January, including evening buffet on the 31st, and New Year’s Day late breakfast from 9am to 11am then New Year’s Day four course late lunch with traditional steak pie.

If you would like to have extra meals in the restaurant, then these can be paid for as taken.

Bring along children and pets

What’s great about this offer is that children under two can accompany you for free (the hotel will provide a cot but not bedding).

If you would like to bring children aged 2 to 15 along, you can upgrade to a larger room. Please arrange this directly with the hotel.

You won’t have to leave your best friend behind either, as a maximum of two dogs are welcome in dog-friendly rooms. There will be a supplement of £15 per dog, per stay and this can also be arranged with the hotel.

Scottish festive dining

If you choose option one or three, you will be enjoying your festive meals in the hotel’s Sound of Gigha Bistro (which previously won a Taste Our Best 2015/16 title from Visit Scotland).

The hotel’s chefs are proud to use locally sourced produce to treat guests to a taste of the island and surrounding areas.

Hopefully, the merry menus will whet your appetite. On Christmas Day, lunch starters may include salad of smoked halibut with pickled vegetables on a potato blini; ham hock terrine with black pudding and a mustard dressing; or butternut squash & red pepper risotto with a rocket & parmesan salad.

Mains should be along the lines of turkey and stuffing wrapped in Parma ham served with fondant and new potatoes alongside vegetables and a red wine sauce; pan-fried duck breast with Lyonnaise potatoes, plum sauce and pak choi; and Gigha halibut with a herb Parmesan crust on crushed new potatoes with a fish cream and broccoli.

Christmas pudding with brandy sauce and lemon cheesecake with raspberry coulis and vanilla ice cream are just a couple of desserts on offer. The meal is followed by tea or coffee with a mince pie.

New Year’s Day lunch will be likely to include canapés with Bucks Fizz followed by leek and potato soup.

Traditional steak pie, followed by a dessert and coffee with mince pie is an example of how your tasty first lunch of 2019 will pan out.

There will be vegetarian and vegan options available, and menus are subject to change.

Friendly sea view hotel

Gigha Hotel is a small and welcoming family-run residence perched above Ardminish Bay on the Kintyre peninsula.

It is ideal for an atmospheric winter getaway, as you can cosy up indoors and soak up the Highland hospitality while watching waves crashing onto the beach outside. Bliss.

As well as stunning sea views, other features include the award-winning Sound of Gigha Bistro; a big comfortable guest lounge for reading and board games; a cosy bar where you can chat to locals, free parking and free WiFi.

All of the rooms are ensuite, spacious and extremely comfortable. Each one has a sea view and cheerful decor. Other features include a TV, hairdryer and tea & coffee making facilities.

Winter magic

From basking seals to silver beaches to stone quarries, Gigha may be small but there is no shortage of hikes and sights on the island.

For instance, you could take a bracing walk to the top of Creag Bhan to see the sun set behind Islay, watch dolphins play off the South Pier or search for the spouting cave (a favourite hangout of the seals).

That said, you could also just cosy up inside with a whisky, wine or glass of fizz (don’t forget to pack your Christmas jumper).

Happy guests

Gigha Hotel has plenty of fans posting rave reviews on TripAdvisor. Here are a couple (edited for length):

‘Food was excellent… I loved the menu. I complimented the chef personally..the kitchen staff were excellent. Breakfast was brilliant, it was freshly made for you… a really good toast machine gave you crispy hot toast which was very welcome. A really wide choice too… all you could really want for a hearty, tasty breakfast… we especially loved the small bottles of Wee Dairy Milk that was on the table… Service was great too, very efficient and friendly. We walked from one end of the island and back… Can’t wait to go back…’

Escape to an island this festive season

If you thought that it was too late to get away from it all this Christmas or New Year, then think again – this three night Scottish island escape offers the perfect chance.

So why not let yourself be spoiled rotten for three nights while exploring Gigha’s winter wonderland?