islands in the forth

[breezeblock]

evening chaps has anybody been out to the islands on the forth they look quite good to get a nosey round about them we were thinking about going out to inchkeith

[Poly]

I've not landed on inchkeith but others have: http://www.abandonedscotland.com/the...-of-inchkeith/

I think it is still owned by Tom farmer but I think you are unlikely to meet him there.

Inchcolm is worth a visit (although motorised traffic will be charged a landing fee). Inchmickerey is an rspb reserve and so I suggest talking to them about rules for landing. Inchgarvie looks like there is some interesting stuff to explore but it is reputedly overrun with rats.

[midlife]

Inchcolm is lovely on a sunny day ..or if it's calm head down to north Berwick harbour and bass rock

[Iankristy]

Inchcolm a great visit. Landed there twice over the weekend. Abbey really well preserved and worth a visit as well as the ww2 installations. No landing fee and a nice wee pontoon. Historic Scotland charge a fee to visit abbey but island is free. Beware the Meadulse rocks to North east! Easy route in but important to study chart.

[midlife]

Pirate island ...as my youngest calls it

[Iankristy]

Haha, great minds and all that...

[Chunk]

Inchkeith is well worth a visit but it is relatively overgrown and has crumbling ruins so take care. Will attach some photos but the old Victorian fort / buildings and underground tunnels are well worth an explore (take a torch and use your head - if it looks unsafe stay out). The WW1 and WW2 gun emplacements have artillery stores beneath and many again are reached through tunnels.

Isle of May is beautiful, it has a small natural harbour and visitor centre and is great for wildlife - seals, porpoise (the odd Orca) and birdlife (puffins, tern, kittiwake, razorbills etc). Good snorkelling and diving off the southern / SW side.

Bass Rock is pretty amazing to see with the '000s of Gannets but is does smell somewhat Good fishing for Pollock and Cod off the south side towards Tantalon castle. Good relatively shallow snorkel and dive on the western side and a tunnel that you can walk through at spring lows.

Craigleith is festooned with Puffins although these leave in the next few weeks, and some seals - good fishing for mackerel.

Lamb has hexagonal basalt columns similar to the giants causeway and again worth a look around if snorkelling or diving - lots of life in the cracks and crevasses.

I always think Fidra is overshadowed by its neighbours but it was reputed to be the inspiration for Treasure Island which Stevenson wrote at the nearby Marine Villa.

Cheers

[Chunk]

1. One of many old Victorian buildings
2. Gun emplacement
3. Old tool board inside a machine gun nest

[breezeblock]

Originally Posted by Chunk

Attachment 114822Attachment 114823Attachment 114824
1. One of many old Victorian buildings
2. Gun emplacement
3. Old tool board inside a machine gun nest

spanners are gone i had a quick look at a video that neil oliver done it does look quite an interesting place

[Chunk]

Yes, didn't see it with tools on. A friend told me stories of the island being a time capsule after the last troops left in the 50's (?) was told it was ransacked in the 70's and 80's.
Not seen the video, do you have a link?
Cheers

[markmullen]

We landed at Inchcolm when I did my PB2 with Port Edgar Watersports a few years back, it looked a lovely spot.

[breezeblock]

the defence of Inchkeith two men in a trench
look that up on youtube it sounds like an episode of lost with neil oliver narrating

[Chunk]

Thanks, yes found it 👍

[chrishowden]

Originally Posted by breezeblock

evening chaps has anybody been out to the islands on the forth they look quite good to get a nosey round about them we were thinking about going out to inchkeith

Inchkeith is a great island to explore and lots of buildings to climb on. Best view on the Forth!

[breezeblock]

been there today found 3 chickens running loose very tame i need to post some picks up very interesting place

[breezeblock]

heres pictures of yesterdays trip