Inchgarvie Island, Firth of Forth, Scotland

 

Inchgarvie Island, Firth of Forth, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Inchgarvie Island which is located in the Firth of Forth, north of Edinburgh, Scotland.

The island is uninhabited and was last occupied in World War II.  I encountered it in course of a boat trip.

The name is derived from the Gaelic Innis Garbhach which means a “rough island”.  Area is 0.83 hectares.

Over the past 500 years or so the island has featured in official records principally because of fortifications erected during various conflicts, viz:

  • A fort or tower was built during 1513 on instructions of King James IV of Scotland.
  • Subsequently the building was adapted as a state prison.
  • During the Civil Wars in the 17th century the island was occupied by Royalist troops.
  • During the Napoleonic Wars ( 1803-15) defences were repaired and supplemented with cannon but by the middle of the 19th century these fortifications were in a ruinous state.
  • During WW2 the pre-existing fortifications were incorporated in new defences centred on an anti-aircraft gun battery.

As will be evident from the image above, the WW2  buildings remain extant, albeit in a decayed state.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconstructed Roman Villa

Image
This evening, I am reporting on my visit earlier today to a meticulously reconstructed Roman Villa in Somerset, England.   Funding for the project was provided by a South African billionaire. Specific features of the reconstruction project which is known as 'Villa Ventorum': Employed hundreds of architects, builders, archaelogists, mosaic makers, fresco painters and experts on ancient plumbing. The new build was built close to the remains of the original villa which dates from AD351. Incorporates the only working hypocaust system in Europe to create authentic Roman underfloor heating. Thne system also provides heating for the internal baths. Designed to appear to visitors as though still in use. Mosaics and frescoes have been made below the top standards of the time (e.g. Chedworth ) to reflect the social rank of the resident family. Incorporates a Roman 'fast food bar' allong the lines of that found in Pompeii . (Core of above information sourced from the Times newspap
Read more

Glen Quaich, one of Scotland's best backroads tour routes

Image
This afternoon, I am reporting the route of Glen Quaich in Central Scotland. This is a scenic, single track road which is usually closed to traffic in winter. The route covers about twelve miles and runs between the villages of Amulree and Kenmore on the northern tip of Loch Tay in Perthshire. Depending on time of year it is possible to encounter low lying snow, many sheep, grouse and other exceptional opportunities for photography. Incidentally, Quaich means a drinking cup. In a certain place the landscape is shaped like a bowl. Glen Quaich, Perthshire, Scotland Glen Quaich Black Grouse at Glen Quaich Here are a couple of video clips.
Read more

Fort Augustus, a popular visitor site on southern tip of Loch Ness

Image
Loch Ness from flight of locks at Fort Augustus, Scottish Highlands This evening, I am posting information on Fort Augustus, a busy tourist village on the southern tip of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Summary information on Fort Augustus as follows:- Population about 650 persons. Distance, about 160 miles from Edinburgh and 35 miles from Inverness entailing journey times of 3.5 hours and 1 hour respectively. Well endowed with hotels and other accommodation plus shops, restaurants and visitor attractions. From here visitors can avail of boat trips on Loch Ness. Home to an impressive flight of five locks on the Caledonian Canal. Latter dates from 1822 and is now primarily used by pleasure boats. Closely linked with the 18th century Jacobite uprising in that (a) the village was renamed Fort Augustus (after Prince William Augustus, third son of King George II) consequent upon construction of a British military (redcoat) fort in 1742 and (b) the same Prince
Read more