📌 Island & abbey in the Firth of Forth, Fife
★★★★
Inchcolm (Columba’s Island) is a small island sitting in the Firth of Forth, just off the Fife coast at Aberdour. Its 22 acres provide ample space for large numbers of seagulls, which can be aggressive to visitors during breeding season; consider taking an umbrella to ward off territorial dives. A part-ruined – but still beautiful – 13th century monastery still stands amongst the feathery chaos, as well as various concrete artillery defences constructed in the World Wars. Today defence, religion and nature awkwardly combine to create a quirky but somehow beguiling place, well worth the boat trip from South Queensferry. It all feels a world away from Edinburgh, only 7 miles distant.
Inchcolm from the Maid of the Forth boat 
Disembarking the ferry 
Inchcolm from the ferry pier 
Middle of the island from the eastern end 
Inchcolm Abbey from the west 
Inchcolm Abbey 
View from the top of the tower 
Abbey museum 
Wartime defences 
Tunnel through the eastern headland 
Seagull eggs 
Seagull & eggs 
Seagull & chicks
Inchcolm ★★★★
🌍 Location
📌 Uninhabited island in the Firth of Forth
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 188825
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.028967,-3.304085
🚢 Access by boat (see above) from South Queenferry, which has train & bus connections
🚗 Car park / street parking in South Queensferry, then take the boat (see above)
📝 Key info
⌚🎫 Partial access restrictions during seabird nesting season (May to August). Otherwise, see opening & price info for the Maid of the Forth boat trip
Inchcolm Abbey ★★★★
🌍 Location
📌 Close to the jetty on Inchcolm
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 190827
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.030002,-3.301718
🚢 Access by boat (see above) from South Queenferry, which has train & bus connections
🚗 Car park / street parking in South Queensferry, then take the boat (see above)
📝 Key info
⌚ Daily, April to October
🎫 £8.50 adult / £5 child / free for Historic Environment Scotland members – this is a landing fee, payable to the boat operator
