View source for Islands of the Forth

{{good article}}
{{short description|Group of islands in the Firth of Forth, Scotland}}
[[File:Wfm firth of forth.jpg|thumb|Satellite photo of the [[Firth of Forth]] and the surrounding area]]
[[File:BassRockNB.JPG|thumb|The [[Bass Rock]] from [[North Berwick]]]]
[[File:North Horn - geograph.org.uk - 1170475.jpg|thumb|[[Foghorn]] on the [[Isle of May]]]]
The '''Islands of the Forth''' are a group of small islands located in the [[Firth of Forth]] and in the estuary of the [[River Forth]] on the east coast of Scotland. Most of the group lie in the open waters of the [[firth]], between the [[Lothians]] and [[Fife]], with the majority to the east of the city of [[Edinburgh]]. Two islands lie further west in the river estuary.

The islands have a varied geology and history; over the centuries, several have had both ecclesiastical connections and a history of involvement in military occupations. Various lighthouses and other aids to navigation have been erected on the islands and skerries — one of these dates to the 17th century. But only one of the islands still has year-round human inhabitants. The area has diverse bird and sea life. The scientific name for the [[northern gannet]] was chosen in recognition of this bird's connection with the [[Bass Rock]].

There are only a few islands off the coast of eastern Scotland, and most of them of any significant size are included in this group.<ref group="Note">Other east coast islands include [[Mugdrum]] in the [[Firth of Tay]] and [[Inchcape]], a reef notoriously hazardous to ships off the [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]] coast. For a full list, see [[List of outlying islands of Scotland]].</ref>

==Geography==
Furthest east is the [[Isle of May]], off the coast of Fife south of [[Crail]]. To the south in the outer Firth there is a group of islands off [[East Lothian]] near [[North Berwick]] and [[Gullane]]; from east to west they are the Bass Rock (also known simply as "The Bass"<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.leithhistory.co.uk/2007/11/29/the-bass-rock/| title=The Bass Rock| publisher=History of Leith| access-date=20 October 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705180113/http://www.leithhistory.co.uk/2007/11/29/the-bass-rock/| archive-date=5 July 2008| url-status=dead}}</ref>), [[Craigleith]], [[Lamb (island)|Lamb]], [[Fidra]] and [[Eyebroughy]]. A second group lie in the inner Firth of Forth. [[Inchkeith]] and [[Inchcolm]] are off [[Kinghorn]] and [[Aberdour]] on the north shore, [[Inchgarvie]] lies midway between [[North Queensferry|North]] and [[South Queensferry]], and [[Inchmickery]] and [[Cramond Island]] are nearer to [[Edinburgh]] on the south shore. [[Alloa Inch]] and [[Tullibody Inch]] are furthest west in the estuarine waters of the River Forth.

Only one of these islands, Inchcolm, has had a resident population in recent years, although there have been monasteries, hermitages, lighthouses and fortifications on most of them in the past. In the late 19th century, the Isle of May had a population of over 20.<ref name=HS490>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 490-94</ref> Many of the island names have the first element, "Inch-" (from ''Innis'', the [[Scottish Gaelic language|Gaelic]] word for "island").<ref name="Mac an Tàilleir 2003 p. 64">Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 64</ref><ref group="Note">''Innis'' also means "meadow".</ref>

==Geology==
Geologically, most of the islands are the remnants of [[igneous]] intrusions. The Isle of May's rock is "fine grained [[basalt]] of a dark-grey colour with tinges of green and [[Greenschist|greenstone]]".<ref name=HS490/> Fidra is also largely basalt<ref name=Fidra/> and The Bass is a [[phonolite]] [[volcanic plug]].<ref name=HS495/> Craigleith is a [[laccolith]] made up of [[essexite]] which is popular for making [[curling]] stones<ref name=craig>{{cite web| url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1600.html | title=Overview of Craigleith| publisher=Gazetteer for Scotland| access-date=8 February 2008}}</ref> and Cramond island is made up of [[diabase|dolerite]].<ref>[http://www.geowalks.demon.co.uk/iwalks.html#2203 "Guided Walks Programme 2011"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826041753/http://www.geowalks.demon.co.uk/iwalks.html#2203 |date=26 August 2010 }} Geowalks. Retrieved 5 February 2011.</ref> Inchmickery and Inchgarvie are of igneous origin and the latter is partly made up of [[picrite]]. Studies of the landscape beneath the waters of the firth have revealed that the visible surface of Inchgarvie is only the top of a larger [[crag and tail]] structure similar in structure to [[Edinburgh Castle]] and the [[Royal Mile]] created by [[glacier|glacial]] action.<ref>Corbet, Niall (1999) "Management Statement for Inchmickery SSSI". SNH.</ref><ref>Watson, Jeremy (8 April 2007) [http://news.scotsman.com/topstories/Revealed-volcanic-island-beneath-the.3274664.jp "Revealed: volcanic island beneath the Firth of Forth"] ''The Scotsman. Edinburgh. Retrieved 5 February 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Tyrrell | first1 = George Walter | year = 1916 | title = The Picrite-Teschenite Sill of Lugar (Ayrshire) | url =https://zenodo.org/record/1448551 | journal = Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society | volume = 72 | issue = 1–4| pages = 84–131 | doi=10.1144/gsl.jgs.1916.072.01-04.09| s2cid = 129188570 }}</ref> The tidal islet of Eyebroughy is about {{convert|1.5|km|mi}} to the west of Fidra.<ref name=OS/> Its component rock is [[trachyte]] and [[Lower Carboniferous]] in origin.<ref name=Eyeb>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1602.html|title=Eyebroughy |work=Gazetteer for Scotland |access-date=5 September 2010}}</ref>

Most of Inchkeith is of volcanic origin but there are also sections of [[sandstone]], [[coal]], [[limestone]] and [[shale]], the last named containing numerous fossils. There are also several springs on the island.<ref>Grant, James (1880s) [http://www.oldandnewedinburgh.co.uk/volume6/page109.html/single "Old and New Edinburgh"]. London. Cassells. '''6''' Retrieved 5 February 2011.</ref> Inchcolm is similarly varied, consisting of greenstone, sandstone, shale and limestone.<ref>Howell ''et al'' (1861) p. 35</ref>

==Natural history==
The Firth is an important area for [[nature conservation]] and has a range of habitats including extensive mudflats, shingle shorelines and saltmarsh. The last named, which is well developed on Alloa Inch, is typically dominated by [[Juncus gerardii|saltmarsh rush]], [[Scirpus|sea club-rush]], [[Aster tripolium|sea aster]] and [[Puccinellia maritima|common saltmarsh-grass]].<ref name=FOFSSSI>"Firth of Forth SSSI Management Statement" (2004) [[Scottish Natural Heritage]].</ref> The inner Firth is important for nationally and internationally important numbers of wintering wildfowl and wading birds and hosts populations of [[shelduck]], [[red knot|knot]], [[common redshank|redshank]], [[great crested grebe]], [[teal]] and [[goldeneye (duck)|goldeneye]].<ref>[http://gateway.snh.gov.uk/portal/page?_pageid=53,910305,53_910314&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&PA_CODE=8163&NEW_WINDOW=false "Firth of Forth SSSI Midas Reference 8163"]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 15 September 2010.</ref> The outer islands support significant numbers of nesting [[seabirds]]. The Bass Rock has more than 150,000 nesting northern gannets and is the largest single rock gannetry in the world.<ref name=SSC>{{cite web| url=http://www.seabird.org/home.asp| title=Welcome to the Scottish Seabird Centre| publisher=[[Scottish Seabird Centre]]| access-date=13 May 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060206032238/http://www.seabird.org/home.asp| archive-date=6 February 2006| df=dmy-all}}</ref> When viewed from the mainland much of the rock looks white due to the sheer number of birds (and their droppings, which give off 152 tonnes of [[ammonia]] per year).<ref>Blackall, T.D. (2007) "Ammonia emissions from seabird colonies" ''Geophys. Res. Lett.'' '''34''', L10801</ref> The scientific name of this gannet, ''Morus bassanus'', is derived from the rock. The bird was traditionally known locally as the solan goose, and its eggs and meat were considered delicacies. It is estimated that in 1850 almost 2000 birds were harvested from the rock. Other bird species on the rock include [[common guillemot|guillemot]], [[razorbill]], [[great cormorant|cormorant]], [[Atlantic puffin|puffin]], [[common eider|eider duck]] and numerous [[gulls]].<ref name=NLB>{{cite web| url=http://www.nlb.org.uk/ourlights/history/bassrock.htm| title=Bass Rock Lighthouse| publisher=[[Northern Lighthouse Board]]| access-date=9 May 2008}}</ref>
[[File:Craigleith from North Berwick.JPG|thumb|left|Craigleith from [[North Berwick]] harbour]]
Craigleith lies close to North Berwick's [[harbour]] and historically was used as a [[rabbit]] warren. The rabbits were bred for food but they were wiped out by [[myxomatosis]] in the 1950s. The [[Atlantic puffin]] colony on Craigleith, once one of the largest in Britain with 28,000 pairs, became endangered from 1999 onward, due to invasion of non-endemic [[tree mallow]], which choked the puffins' burrows, preventing them from rearing their pufflings. A five-year project, SOS Puffin, led by the Scottish Seabird Centre at North Berwick, was launched early in 2007. Since then, hundreds of volunteers have been working hard to rid the island of the problem, ferried out by boat from the Seabird Centre during the winter months, when the puffins are at sea. There are signs that the puffins are starting to return to the island to breed.<ref>{{Cite news| work=[[The Scotsman]]| url=http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/235000-lifeline-for-puffins-driven.3350796.jp| title=£235,000 lifeline for puffins driven out by ruthless march of the mallow| author=Ian Johnston| date=2 March 2007| access-date=8 February 2008}}</ref> Fidra, Inchmickery and Eyebroughy are [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds|RSPB]] reserves, the last being noted for its cormorants.<ref name=Fidra/><ref name=Eyeb/><ref>[http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1594.html "Inchmickery"]. Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 8 September 2010.</ref> Over 240 species of bird and 60 varieties of seaweed have been recorded on the Isle of May.<ref name=HS490/>
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==History==
Several of the islands contain pre-historic remains created by cultures whose names are unknown. They have also been affected by the successive influences of [[Celtic language|Celtic]], [[Old Norse language|Norse]] and [[English language|English]]-speaking peoples during the historic period and this is reflected in their names. The islands also came under attack from [[Vikings]] during the early Historic period.

===15th century===
During the reign of [[James IV of Scotland|King James IV]] Inchkeith was the site of an extraordinary experiment. According to the historian [[Robert Lyndsay of Pitscottie]], in 1493 James directed that a [[muteness|dumb]] woman and two infants be transported to the island, to ascertain which language the infants would grow up to speak when isolated from the rest of the world. It was thought that this would be the "original" language, or language of God. There is no reliable account of how the infants spoke although Lyndsay of Pitscottie reported that "some say they spoke good Hebrew".<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/scottishhistory/renaissance/oddities_renaissance.shtml "A Bizarre Island Experiment"] BBC History. Retrieved 6 February 2011.</ref>

In 1497 Inchkeith and Inchgarvie were used as an isolated refuge for victims of [[syphilis]]<ref>{{Cite journal| last = Pearce| first = J M S|date=April 1998| title = A note on the origins of syphilis| journal = Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry | volume = 64| issue = 542| url= | doi = 10.1136/jnnp.64.4.542| page = 542| pmid=9576552| pmc=2170021}}</ref> and in 1589, history repeated itself when Inchkeith was used to quarantine the passengers of a plague-ridden ship. (More plague sufferers came from the mainland in 1609 and in 1799, Russian sailors who died of an infectious disease were buried there.)<ref name=Smith488/>

Inchcolm is mentioned in [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare's]] ''[[Macbeth]]'' where it is described as "Saint Colmes ynch".<ref name=Gazcolm>{{cite web| url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst12.html | title=Inchcolm| publisher=Gazetteer for Scotland| access-date=27 July 2007}}</ref>

===English garrisons===
Inchcolm was raided by English troops during the 14th century [[Wars of Scottish Independence|Wars of Independence]].<ref name=Gazcolm/> In the 16th century Inchkeith, Inchcolm and Inchgarvie all suffered English occupation. The [[Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset|Earl of Somerset]] garrisoned the islands in 1547 after the [[Battle of Pinkie Cleugh]]. His force of marines were ordered to reinforce Inchkeith, and they built a large square fort, with corner towers, on the site of the present day lighthouse. His forces, mainly Italian mercenaries, were ejected by a combined Franco-Scottish force under General D’ Essé in 1549.<ref name=electricleithseige>{{cite web| title=The story of Leith – XXII. The Siege of Leith| work=Electric Scotland| url=http://www.electricscotland.com/history/leith/22.htm| access-date=22 June 2007}}</ref>

===Later fortifications===
[[File:Inchmickery Island.jpg|thumb|Jetty and fortifications on [[Inchmickery]]]]
Only Inchcolm was fortified during the [[Napoleonic]] wars. [[Inchkeith]] was fortified (along with [[Kinghorn]]) in 1880. [[Inchgarvie]] was armed early in the 20th century. In the [[First World War]] and the [[Second World War]] [[Inchmickery]], [[Inchcolm]] and [[Cramond Island]] formed part of a defensive line of guns covering anti-submarine booms across the river. <ref name=GazInchk>{{cite web| url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst33.html | title=Overview of Inchkeith| publisher=[[Gazetteer for Scotland]]| access-date=28 December 2007}}</ref> There is no evidence to support the popular belief that the defensive structures on Inchmickery were designed to make the island look like a battleship from a distance: the structures were placed to provide the best fields of fire for the guns, and to squeeze in as much accommodation as possible for the garrison. These buildings were later used for filming scenes of the film ''[[Complicity (film)|Complicity]]''.<ref>[http://www.scotlandthemovie.com/movies/compinm.html "Complicity – Inchmickery"]. scotlandthemovie.com. Retrieved 8 September 2010.</ref>

===Ecclesiastical associations===
[[File:Inchcolm Abbey.jpg|thumb|right|[[Inchcolm]] Abbey]]
Many of the islands were said to have [[Culdee]] connections, and had chapels on them. Various saints also have connections with the islands. [[Teneu|St Thaney]] or Thenaw was reputedly the mother of St [[Kentigern]] and is said to have been cast adrift in an oarless coracle in deep waters beyond the Isle of May by her father [[King Lot|King Leudonus]], which resulted in an abundance of fish in the seas nearby.<ref>[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usebooks/fleming-eastneuk/chapter04.html "Isle of May"]. Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 19 September 2010.</ref> St Adrian of May was murdered there by invading Danes in 870 (who killed [[St Monans#History|St Monance]] in the same raid). He was buried in a stone coffin on the island but is said to have floated across the Firth before coming to rest in a churchyard at [[Anstruther]].<ref name=HS490/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/stmonans/stmonans/index.html|title=St Monans|work=Undiscovered Scotland|access-date=2018-02-25}}</ref> The Isle of May has a long history of ecclesiastical activity and there are various remains including that of a 13th-century [[Benedictine]] church.<ref name=HS490/>

The Irish missionary Saint [[Baldred of Tyninghame]] resided on The Bass in the 8th century and there is a ruined 12th century chapel on Fidra dedicated to [[Saint Nicholas|St Nicholas]].<ref>{{citation| url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=43422#s28| title=Banff – Berwick (North): Bass, Isle| work=A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland| year=1846| pages=101–123| access-date=26 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{citation| url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=43439&strquery=fidrey#s30| title=Faifley – Fifeshire: Fidrey Isle| work=A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland| year=1846| pages=411–428| access-date=26 December 2009}}</ref> Inchcolm has connections to St [[Columba]] and King [[Alexander I of Scotland|Alexander I]] was marooned on the island, and decided to make it the site of an [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] [[monastery]].<ref name=Smith488>Haswell-Smith (2004) pp. 488–89</ref><ref name=Gazcolm/> In the 7th century St [[Adomnan|Adomnán]] of Iona founded a "school of the prophets" on Inchkeith in the late 7th century having met [[St Serf]] there.<ref name=Smith488/> Inchmickery's name may be derived from the Gaelic for "island of the vicar".<ref name=Smith488/>

==Navigation==
[[File:Lighthouse on the Isle of May - geograph.org.uk - 1530509.jpg|thumb|The lighthouse on the [[Isle of May]]]]
Many of the isles act as an aid to navigation. There are various [[lighthouse]]s<ref>[http://www.nlb.org.uk/LighthouseLibrary/Main/ "Lighthouse Library"] Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 14 July 2007.</ref> and numerous devices to guide shipping in the busy waters near the ports of [[Leith]] and [[Rosyth]].

In 1803, construction was begun of Inchkeith Lighthouse, designed and built by [[Thomas Smith (engineer)|Thomas Smith]] and [[Robert Stevenson (civil engineer)|Robert Stevenson]]. The lighthouse stands 67 metres high and was operational by 1804.<ref name=nlb>{{cite web| title=Inchkeith Lighthouse – History| work=[[Northern Lighthouse Board]]| url=http://www.nlb.org.uk/ourlights/history/inchkeith.htm| access-date=2007-04-20| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040615090557/http://www.nlb.org.uk/ourlights/history/inchkeith.htm| archive-date=15 June 2004| url-status=dead}}</ref> The Fidra light was built in 1885 and automated in 1970.<ref name=Martine>Martine (1890) pp. 50–51</ref>

The light on the small rock of Oxcars was automated as early as 1894. At that time it was controlled by a clockwork timer and was powered using gas delivered weekly from [[Granton, Edinburgh|Granton]] gasworks.<ref>[http://www.nlb.org.uk/ourlights/automation.htm "Automation"] Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 5 February 2011.</ref> A lighthouse was constructed on the Bass Rock in 1902.<ref name=HS495/>

The Isle of May light has a long history having been in operation since 1635 when a crude coal-fired structure was erected. The existing building was constructed in 1816, which was converted to a "rock station" in 1972 and automated in March 1989.<ref name=maylight/> The island is owned by the [[Northern Lighthouse Board|Commissioners of the Northern Lights]] although managed by [[Scottish Natural Heritage]] as a [[national nature reserve (Scotland)|national nature reserve]].<ref name=HS490/>

None of the islands are accessible by public transport except Inchcolm, which has a regular summer service.<ref>[http://www.maidoftheforth.co.uk/inchcolm.shtml# "Trips to Inchcolm: The Iona of the East"] maidoftheforth.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2011.</ref>

==List==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Island
! [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic Name]]<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) various pages.</ref>
! Meaning of name
! Location
!Area ([[hectare|ha]])<ref>Estimate from Ordnance Survey maps unless otherwise indicated.</ref>
!Highest point<ref name=OS/>
!Last inhabited
|-
| [[Alloa Inch]]
|Unknown
|[[Alloa]] island
|{{gbmapping|NS871915}}
|{{ntsh|33}} c. 33
|<5
|{{sort|1960|20th century?}}
|-
| [[Bass Rock]]
|Unknown
|Possibly from Gaelic ''bathais'', meaning "forehead".<ref name=HS495>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 495-97</ref>
|{{gbmapping|NT602874}}
|{{nts|7.5}}<ref name=HS495/>
| 107
|{{sort|1970|1970s}}<ref name=HS495/>
|-
| [[Craigleith]]
|''Creag Lìte''
| Rock of Leith
|{{gbmapping|NT555868}}
| {{nts|5}}
| 24<ref name=craig/>
|{{sort|1|Inhabitation unlikely}}
|-
| [[Cramond Island]]
| Unknown
| island of the fort on the Almond river<ref group="Note">Mac an Tàilleir (2003) provides no name for the island itself but states that "[[Cramond]]" is from the [[Brythonic languages|Brythonic]] ''Caramond'' meaning "fort on the Almond".</ref>
|{{gbmapping|NT194785}}
|{{nts|7.7}}<ref name=cram/>
|28
|{{sort|1944|Possibly World War II}}
|-
|[[Fidra]]
| Unknown
| From the Norse for "feather island"<ref>Ryder, N.L. [http://www.envarch.net/publications/circaea/6.2/circaea(6.2-1990).pdf "Displacement of bone waste by seagulls"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927114311/http://www.envarch.net/publications/circaea/6.2/circaea(6.2-1990).pdf |date=27 September 2011 }} (pdf) ''Circaea'': The Bulletin of the Association for Environmental Archaeology. '''6''' No. 2 (1990) University of York. p. 85. Retrieved 19 September 2010.</ref>
|{{gbmapping|NT513868}}
|{{nts|10}}
|20
|1970<ref name=Fidra>[http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1599.html "Fidra"]. Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 18 June 2008.</ref>
|-
| [[Inchcolm]]
|''Innis Choluim ''
| Calum/Malcolm or [[Columba]]'s island
| {{gbmapping|NT189824}}
| {{nts|9}}
|34
|{{sort|2009|First decade of the 21st century}}
|-
|[[Inchgarvie]]
| ''Innis Garbhach''
|rough island
|{{gbmapping|NT136795}}
|{{nts|0.83}}
|19
|{{sort|1945|Probably World War II}}
|-
| [[Inchkeith]]
|Possibly ''Innis Cheith'' or ''Innis Coit''.<ref name=W381>Watson (1926) pp. 381–82</ref><ref>[http://www.cyberscotia.com/ancient-lothian/leaves/stories/the-life-of-saint-serf-anonymous.html "The Life of Saint Serf"] cyberscotia.com. Retrieved 27 December 2010.</ref><ref group="Note">Recorded as "Insula Keth" in the 12th century ''Life of Saint Serf''. Mac an Tàilleir (2003) and Watson (1926) suggest that the root is the Brthyonic "coed". The derivation would appear to be assumed rather than attested and the modern form is ''Innis Cheith''.</ref>
|wooded island<ref name=W381/>
|{{gbmapping|NT294825}}
| {{nts|20}}
|59
|1986
|-
| [[Inchmickery]]
| Possibly ''Innis nam Bhiocaire''
|Possibly "island of the vicar"
|{{gbmapping|NT207803}}
|{{ntsh|4}} <5
|14
|{{sort|1945|Probably World War II}}
|-
| [[Lamb (island)|Lamb]]
| Unknown
| From a common Norse name for a small island
|{{gbmapping|NT536867}}
| {{nts|0.5}}
| 15
|{{sort|1|Inhabitation unlikely}}
|-
| [[Isle of May]]
|''Eilean Mhàigh ''
| Possibly "gull island"<ref name=HS490/>
|{{gbmapping|NT653996}}
| {{nts|45}}
|50
|1989
|-
| [[Tullibody Inch]]
|Unknown
| [[Tullibody]] island
|{{gbmapping|NS862925}}
| {{nts|6}}
|<5
|{{sort|2|Unknown}}
|}

===Outer===
The Isle of May is in the north of the outer Firth of Forth, about {{convert|8|km|mi}} off the coast of mainland Fife. It is {{convert|1.8|km|mi}} long, less than {{convert|0.5|km|mi}} wide and has a total area of {{convert|45|ha|acre}} making it by far the largest of the Forth islands. Although often inhabited in the past nobody has been recorded as living there since the automation of the lighthouse.<ref name=HS490/><ref name=maylight>[http://www.nlb.org.uk/LighthouseLibrary/Lighthouse/Isle-of-May/ "Isle of May"]. Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 5 September 2010.</ref> Rona is a tidal islet to the north joined to the main island by a bridge. Further north are North Ness, the Mars Rocks and Norman Rock. Clett and the Middens are [[stack (geology)|stacks]] to the east and The Pillow is a [[skerry]] to the south east. Maiden Rocks and Maiden Hair lie just offshore to the south.<ref name=OS>Ordnance Survey maps.</ref>

The Bass Rock is about {{convert|2|km|mi}} offshore, and {{convert|5|km|mi}} north-east of [[North Berwick]]. This steep-sided island is currently uninhabited, but was lived on for many centuries. It has a castle dating from the 14th century, which was later used as a prison and there are the remains of a chapel built circa 1491. The Lauder family owned the island for almost six centuries, and it now belongs to Sir Hew Dalrymple whose family purchased it in 1701.<ref name=HS495/> The rock features in various works of fiction, including [[Robert Louis Stevenson]]'s ''Catriona''. At {{convert|7.5|ha|acre}} in extent the Bass Rock is the second largest of the islands of the Forth. The Middens is a small stack that lies just offshore to the northwest.<ref name=HS495/><ref name=OS/>

Craigleith lies north of North Berwick harbour. It was also purchased by Sir Hew Dalrymple, from North Berwick Town Council in 1814.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst33.html | title=Overview Craigleith| publisher=[[Gazetteer for Scotland]]| access-date=6 February 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Fidra35185.jpg|thumb|left|[[Fidra]]]]
[[Lamb (island)|The Lamb]] is an uninhabited island about 100m long by 50m wide, flanked by the skerries North Dog and South Dog. There are other skerries between it and the shore including Bubbly Buss, the Law Rocks and the Hummel Ridges.<ref name=OS/> In February 2009, the island was bought by the Israeli [[paranormalist]] [[Uri Geller]] for £30,000.<ref>{{Cite news| title=Uri Geller to hunt for treasure in Forth| publisher=BBC News| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8551579.stm| date=5 March 2010| access-date=7 March 2010}}</ref><ref name=BBC>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7883836.stm| title=Spoon-bender buys Scottish island| date=11 February 2009| publisher=BBC News| access-date=14 February 2009}}</ref><ref name=Scotsman>{{Cite news| author=Shân Ross| url=http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Mystical-force-stirs-spoonbender-Geller.4971813.jp| title=Mystical force stirs spoon-bender Geller to splash out on 'pyramid of the Forth'| date=12 February 2009| publisher=[[The Scotsman]]| access-date=14 February 2009}}</ref>

Fidra, archaically Fetheray,<ref>Skene, W. F. (November 1862) "Of the early Frisian Settlements in Scotland". Antiquaries of Scotland. '''4''' Part 1.</ref> is {{convert|4|km|mi}} north-west of North Berwick. Like the nearby islands it is the result of volcanic activity and has a substantial seabird population.<ref name=Fidra/> It can be accessed via a primitive jetty on the eastern shore.<ref name=Smith488/> It is said that R. L. Stevenson based his map of ''[[Treasure Island]]'' on the shape of Fidra.<ref name=Fidra/> The island is also attended by companion islets called North Dog and South Dog and Castle Tarbet is another islet to the south separated from the main bulk at high tides.<ref name=OS/>
{{clear}}

===Inner===
Inchkeith is close to the shores of Fife. Its history has been dominated by religion, its use as a quarantine and military events (see above). It is currently owned by [[Tom Farmer]], founder of [[Kwikfit]], although he doesn't live there.<ref name=Smith488/>

Inchmickery lies about {{convert|8|km|mi}} east of Inchkeith and it is about {{convert|3.5|km|mi}} north of the city of Edinburgh. It is only about 100 metres by 200 metres in size. Rocks known as the Cow and Calf lie to the north and beyond that, about halfway to Inchcolm, are the Oxcars, a hazard identified by a permanent light.<ref name=OS/>
[[File:InchgarvieBridge.jpg|thumb|[[Inchgarvie]] Island, showing position and size relative to the [[Forth Bridge]].]]
Incholm is the only island in the Firth with a recent resident population, of whom there were two in the 2001 census<ref>{{GRO10}}</ref> although there was no usually resident population recorded at the time of the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]].<ref>{{NRS1C}}</ref> There is a resident custodian employed by [[Historic Scotland]] who maintains the island and runs the shop during the summer.<ref name=HS490/> In the 14th century [[John of Fordun]] records the name as "Euomonia" (referring to the ''monasterium Sancti Columbe in insula Euomonia'').<ref>Watson (1994) p. 104</ref> There are various skerries in the sea to the north including Swallow Craig, Car Craig, Meadulse and Craigdimas.<ref name=OS/>

[[File:Forth Bridge - Inchgarvie cantilever, three-fourths full height.jpg|thumb|Construction of the Inchgarvie cantilever of the Forth Bridge]]
Inchgarvie's name is from ''[[List of islands called Garbh Eilean|Innis Gharbhaidh]]'' which is Scottish Gaelic for "rough island" or possibly "Garbhach's island".<ref name="Mac an Tàilleir 2003 p. 64"/> This island has a long history of fortification and is now incorporated into the [[Forth Bridge]]. In 1878, foundations for [[Thomas Bouch]]'s Forth Bridge were laid on Inchgarvie but after the [[Tay Bridge Disaster]] these plans were abandoned.  When construction of the bridge recommenced in 1882, the west end of the island was extended with a pier and used as the foundation for one of the [[cantilever]]s. The island was also used for a construction office and the castle buildings were re-roofed to accommodate workers. Some of the stone from the former castle was used to build the [[Caisson (engineering)|caissons]] of the bridge.<ref name="HS490"/><ref>[http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1302.html "Inchgarvie"]. Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 8 September 2010.</ref>

Cramond Island in the [[River Almond, Lothian|Almond estuary]] is a [[tidal island]] that is {{convert|7.7|ha|acre}} in extent and is currently part of the [[Dalmeny House|Dalmeny]] Estate.<ref name=cram>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1593.html| title = Cramond Island |publisher=Gazetteer for Scotland |access-date=22 August 2010}}</ref> It lies about a mile from the shore and is a popular recreation area. The speed with which the water rises can catch visitors unawares, leaving them stranded.<ref name = "cramond revellers">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_east_and_fife/10248503.stm |title='Social networking' revellers stranded on tiny island |publisher=BBC News |date= 6 June 2010 |access-date=6 June 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Alloainch.jpg|right|thumb|The ruins on [[Alloa Inch]]]]
Alloa Inch is an island in the tidal reaches of the River Forth near [[Alloa]] that consists of reed beds and salt marshes. There is a derelict farmhouse on the island and the [[Scottish Wildlife Trust]] has managed the island as a nature reserve since 1996.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst18078.html | title=Alloa Inch| publisher=[[Gazetteer for Scotland]]| access-date=9 August 2009}}</ref><ref>[http://www.swtstirling.org.uk/page6.htm "Stirling Members Centre"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723043939/http://www.swtstirling.org.uk/page6.htm |date=23 July 2011 }} Scottish Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 27 December 2010.</ref> Just upstream is the smaller Tullibody Inch – both are part of the [[Firth of Forth]] [[SSSI]], which also includes the [[John Muir Country Park]].<ref name=FOFSSSI/>

===Smaller and former===
[[File:Haystack - geograph.org.uk - 15551.jpg|thumb|Haystack rock off [[Inchcolm]]]]
There are various other small islets and skerries in the Firth. Along the north shore, from west to east, [[Preston Island]] near [[Culross]] is an artificial former island. This reclaimed land was created c. 1800 for salt production. More land was then reclaimed using ash slurry from [[Longannet]] power station from 1970 onward and it is now part of the mainland.<ref name=OS/><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst22.html | title=Preston Island| publisher=Gazetteer for Scotland| access-date=10 September 2010}}</ref> Just offshore are the Craigmore Rocks at {{gbmapping|NT001845}}, which were called "Kraig Maur" in [[Atlas Maior|Blaeu's Atlas]]. "Dow Kraig" on the same 17th century map appears to be under reclaimed land just along the coast south of Dunsyre House at {{gbmapping|NT116817}}<ref>[https://archive.today/20120908033152/http://www.nls.uk/maps/atlas/blaeu/view/?id=108 "Blaeu's Atlas"] nls.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2010.</ref><ref>[http://special.st-andrews.ac.uk/saspecial/index.php?a=wordsearch&s=gallery&w=dubh "View up Firth of Forth, showing Dubh Craig and Rosyth Castle in distance. Site of new naval works."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717152212/http://special.st-andrews.ac.uk/saspecial/index.php?a=wordsearch&s=gallery&w=dubh |date=17 July 2011 }} RMA-H70. St Andrews University. Retrieved 6 September 2010.</ref> Nearby [[Rosyth Castle]] is a former tidal island<ref>[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/rosyth/rosythcastle/index.html "Rosyth Castle"] Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 9 September 2010.</ref> and Long Craig is now part of the [[Forth Road Bridge]].<ref name=OS/>

There is another Long Craig south of Dalgety Bay and Haystack lies between it and Inchcolm. The Common Rocks are in Silversands Bay at [[Aberdour]] and West Vows, East Vows and another Long Craig lie off Kirkcaldy. Much farther along the coast there is another West Vows and East Vows at [[Earlsferry]]. The [[North Carr|Carr Brigs]] are a hazard to shipping at the entrance to the Firth just off [[Fife Ness]].<ref name=OS/>

There are fewer skerries on the south coast of the Firth. Little Ox lies off [[Musselburgh]] and the Black Rocks, including the Middle and Eastern Craigs lie just outside the [[Leith|Port of Leith]].<ref name=OS/>

==See also==
* {{lookfrom|Inch}}
* [[Scottish island names]]
* [[Lamba (island)|Lamba]] – an island in Shetland
* [[Sula Sgeir]], an islet in the North Atlantic from which the men of [[Ness, Lewis]] take an annual harvest of young northern gannets.
[[File:Firth of Forth Snow.jpg|thumb|500px|centre|View of a snow-covered [[Fife]], with [[Inchkeith]] in the foreground, from [[Portobello, Edinburgh]].]]

==References and footnotes==

===Notes===
{{Reflist|group="Note"}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|2}}

===General references===
* {{Haswell-Smith}}
* Howell, Henry Hyatt; Geikie, Archibald; and Salter, John William (1861) ''The Geology of the Neighbourhood of Edinburgh (Map 32)''. London. The Geological Survey of Great Britain.
* Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) ''Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland''. London: HarperCollins. {{ISBN|0-00-255082-2}}
* Martine, John (1890) ''Reminiscences and Notices of the Fourteen Parishes of the County of Haddington''. Edinburgh: {{ISBN|1-897857-19-5}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/gaelic/pdfs/placenamesP-Z.pdf |title=Placenames |author=Iain Mac an Tàilleir |publisher=Pàrlamaid na h-Alba |access-date=23 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529185220/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/gaelic/pdfs/placenamesP-Z.pdf |archive-date=29 May 2008 }}
* [[Ordnance Survey]] (2009) [http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/ "Get-a-map"]. Retrieved 5–30 September 2010.
* [[William J. Watson|Watson, W. J.]] (1994) ''The Celtic Place-Names of Scotland''. Edinburgh: Birlinn. {{ISBN|1-84158-323-5}}. First published 1926.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.isleofmayferry.com/ Isle of May Ferry]
* [http://www.maidoftheforth.co.uk/ Maid of the Forth] (ferry to Inchcolm and trips around the Forth)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140809102643/http://www.panamint.co.uk/PBSCProduct.asp?ItmID=12814064 "Forth Islands"] documentary film by Brian Cairney
{{Islands of the Forth}}
{{Islands of Scotland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Islands Of The Forth}}
[[Category:Islands of the Forth| ]]
[[Category:Lists of islands of Scotland|Forth]]
[[Category:Islands of Scotland|Forth]]