A group of islands that includes spectacular nature reserves, a spooky 15th-century prison and even the rumour of hidden ancient Egyptian treasure, the Firth of Forth is an area of outstanding natural beauty with a fascinating history. Located within driving distance of The Balmoral and best explored by boat, here’s what to look out for on a sailing trip around the islands.
Setting sail from Port Edgar, the journey begins in the shadow of the iconic Forth Bridges, which tower above you as drift out into the estuary. Then, rising up out of the waters, you’ll be met by the stark sight of Inchgarvie island, its weather-blasted fortifications an austere reminder of its history fending off everyone from pirates and Vikings to German forces during both World Wars. Meaning ‘rough island’ in Gaelic, it’s now an RSPB nature reserve and there are some great opportunities for bird watching around its shores.
Sailing further out towards the North Sea, you’ll stumble upon Inchgarvie’s littlest sister, Inchmickery. This tiny, uninhabited island was the setting for Scottish writer Iain Bank’s novel, Complicity. From here, see if you can spot the sweeping curve of Inchcolm and its beautiful medieval abbey.
Continuing along the coast, The Lamb has perhaps the most unusual story of all the islands. In 2009, this unassuming rock was bought by celebrity psychic Uri Geller, who was convinced that it held ancient Egyptian buried treasure.
The most famous of the islands, Bass Rock can be heard almost before it’s seen, thanks to the constant swirl of seabirds that surround it. Its sheer rocky cliffs once made it the perfect prison, used by Cromwell as a convenient place to lock up Royalists. Peppered with deep, dark caves, with a single white lighthouse at its centre, Bass Rock is famous for its enormous population of over 150,000 gannets—a truly unforgettable sight.
Explore the Islands of the Forth of Firth abroad a luxury boat on an incredible Scone & Crombie Sea Experience with Ossian. To reserve, email adventure@ossian.co or call +(44) 0131 240 6978.
Discover how to make the most of a long weekend in London, Florence and Rome, pairing celebrated landmarks with experiences beyond the city. A few days offers just enough time to settle into a destination’s rhythm, while still leaving space for a thoughtfully chosen day trip further afield.
To understand Baroque, you have to understand its ambition. To fully appreciate it, you have to go to southern Italy. Emerging from the Counter-Reformation in early 17th-century Italy, the movement harnessed drama, ornamentation and light in service of devotion – art designed to engage the senses as much as the intellect.
Some travellers fall in love with a city all at once. Others come to know it gradually, season by season, until they understand not just where to go, but, perhaps more vitally, when. London, with its Royal parks and cobbled courtyards, layers of heritage and history, rewards the latter handsomely.
