Inchcolm Island: A Day Trip From Edinburgh, Scotland

Inchcolm in the Firth of Forth Islands

Inchcolm Island is a small island in the Firth of Forth in the East of Scotland where you can do the following:

• visit a 12th-century abbey,
• see remains of bases used during World War I and World War II, and
• spot seals or puffins (and seagulls).

The Ferry to Inchcolm Island

The easiest way to get to Inchcolm is on one of the regular ferry trips that run from the small town of South Queensferry, a few miles outside of Edinburgh.

Most ferry trips take tourists to the island, leaving them with a few hours to explore before heading back. They also offer trips where you can just cruise around the island without getting off, but I definitely recommend disembarking.

Key Facts

• Location: Inchcolm Island is in the Firth of Forth, the estuary of the river Forth. It lies 1 mile from the Fife coast to the North, and 4 miles east of the Forth Road Bridge.
• Size: 9 hectares (22 acres)
• Population: 2 people, many seagulls, fulmars, and puffins

How to Get to the Inchcolm Island Ferry

Regular ferry trips run from South Queensferry to Inchcolm Island between Easter and mid-October. South Queensferry is easy to reach from Edinburgh.

By Train

There are regular trains from Edinburgh Waverley or Edinburgh Haymarket train station. Get off at 'Dalmeny' train station. The journey takes 15 minutes. From Dalmeny station, it is a short walk from the station down to the shore, where you can catch the ferry.

You can also get the train from many other places in Scotland. Sometimes you might need to change trains at Edinburgh or other towns such as Inverkeithing depending on where you start.

By Bus

You can get the Lothian Country 43 bus service to Dalmeny. This service takes about 25 minutes from the centre of Edinburgh.

Inchcolm Abbey

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Inchcolm Abbey

Inchcolm Abbey was founded in 1124 by King David I of Scotland. It was originally an Augustinian priory, which is a very small monastery. In 1235, it became an abbey, which is a larger, more powerful monastery.

Today, it is one of the best-preserved monasteries in Scotland, as much of the original building still remains. It includes three cloistered walks, the refectory and other rooms. A 13th-century fresco of a funeral procession is preserved in a recess.

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You can walk around and see the historical architecture sedately; however, for more lively visitors, it is also an enjoyable place to run around and play hide and seek.

The abbey is looked after by Historic Environment Scotland, the agency of the Scottish government responsible for looking after Scotland's historic heritage.

World War Fortifications

Inchcolm has a long history of being involved in conflict. Throughout the medieval period there were wars between England and Scotland. Inchcolm's position in the Firth made it a useful defensive base.

In 1795 a gun battery was installed during the Napoleonic War to defend against the French.

During the First and Second World Wars the island was fortified and defences were built in preparation for possible attack. The remains of the world war fortifications can still be seen on the island today. They are the modern nesting place of seagulls.

Beware the Seagulls

A large colony of seagulls live on Inchcolm. These seagulls can be aggressive, especially when they are breeding and nesting. If you want to fully explore the island it is better to go outside of their breeding season (between May - July), as seagulls will swoop and dive at people if they feel threatened.

Unless you are very brave this will limit your ability to fully explore the island! So go in April, August, or September!

Puffins and Seals

Inchcolm is home to puffins, seals and fulmars. Lucky visitors may spot some of these on the ferry, or while walking round the island.

Facilities

There is a gift shop, small visitor centre, and bathroom on the island, but not much else.

If you want to eat out, wait until you get back to South Queensferry. There are plenty of restaurants in the town.

Mortimer's Deep

The channel between Inchcolm and the village of Aberdour in Fife is known as Mortimer's Deep.

The Mortimers were local landowners from Aberdour who buried their family in Inchcolm. According to tradition one time monks were transporting the corpse of a dead member of the Mortimor family over to Inchcolm in a lead coffin, but the corpse ended in the sea.

The most common version of the story is that the corpse ended up in the sea due to a storm, but another version describes it as the deliberate act of "wicked monks".

Other Islands in the Firth of Forth

The Firth of Forth is home to several other islands. Of these tourists can visit the Isle of May and Cramond Island. However the other islands can also be spotted from the mainland or on boat trips across the Firth. Here is a fact about each:

• Bass Rock - home to 150,000 gannets
• Craigleith - known for its puffin colony
• Cramond Island - you can walk across during low tide
• Eyebroughy - noted for cormorants
• Fidra - has the ruins of an old chapel
• Inchgarvie - near the Forth Road Bridge - you will be able to see it on your way to Inchcolm
• Inchkeith - one of the larger islands in the Firth, home to a lighthouse, but has been inhabited in the past, and in the middle ages was used to quarantine the ill at times.
• Inchmickery - near to Inchcolm with concrete buildings
• The Lamb - bought by Uri Gellor in 2009
• Isle of May - the largest of the islands. you can take a day trip here too, setting off from Anstruther on the Fife coast.

The Three Bridges of Queensferry

The town of South Queensferry sits right below the iconic Forth Rail Bridge. The Forth Rail Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks in Scotland, and it features in many postcards and images of Scotland. Work started on building the bridge in 1883 and it was opened in 1890.

The tradition of crossing the Forth at this point, is much older than the Rail Bridge though. Queensferry is believed to date back to the 11th century and have been founded by Queen Margaret. The name of Queensferry refers to this as having been the point where the queen took the ferry from the Lothians over to Fife.

As well as the Forth Rail Bridge, you will be able to see the Forth Road Bridge which dates from 1964, and the brand new Queensferry Crossing. The Queensferry Crossing is a second road bridge which opened in September 2017. At 1.7 miles long it is the longest cable-stayed bridge with three towers in the world.

Forth Rail Bridge

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This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.