Island

Inchcolm Abbey, Inchcolm Island

Aberdour KY3 0XR

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Inchcolm Abbey, Inchcolm Island

The holy island of Inchcolm with its perfectly sited abbey is admired from a distance on St. Margaret’s Way and is entirely worthy of its own easy day trip from Edinburgh

Highlights

  • Monastery island
  • Hermit’s cell

This well-preserved monastic island in the Firth of Forth is sometimes called “the Iona of the east.” While it may lack the lineage of early saints like Iona, it has a legendary connection to St. Columba, whom some believe visited here in the 6th century. Though unverified, this tale led to the abbey and island being named after him (Inch meaning “island” and -colm likely referring to Columba).

The abbey is beautifully sited at the narrowest point of the island, between two crescent-shaped beaches. The main abbey structure dates back to the 12th century, while a hermit’s chapel to the west may have older origins. This single-room chapel, with its stone roof, resembles an ancient chapel at Rhos-on-Sea in Wales and is believed to be modeled on a Celtic hermit’s cell, with origins as early as the 9th century.

Before the abbey’s construction, hermits inhabited the island. King Alexander I was once stranded on Inchcolm for three days in 1123, after which he promised to establish an Augustinian monastery dedicated to St. Columba. The resulting abbey ruins offer an evocative experience, with several rooms such as the chapter house and cloister still intact. Although no specific saint is connected to the abbey, it served as a burial site for high-ranking church officials. A fragment of wall painting in the church choir’s south wall depicts the funeral of a bishop.

Though not the most pristine abbey in Scotland (comparisons to Dunfermline or Iona come to mind), it is the best-preserved redundant abbey, protected by its isolated location. Remarkably, the original altar stone, or mensa, has survived and been restored to its position. It bears five consecration crosses, symbolizing the wounds of Christ, though the stone is now a popular spot for seabirds.

Local precedent suggests Inchcolm may yet see religious revival. An outdoor service is held each June at nearby St. Bridget’s Kirk in Dalgety Bay, a medieval ruin also once managed by Inchcolm Abbey.

Inchcolm Island makes for an ideal day trip from Edinburgh, the entire journey taking under three hours, with ample time to explore the island. There are no café facilities due to the lack of fresh water. Surprisingly, Inchcolm is one of the driest places in the UK, as clouds gather over the land on either side of the Firth, often leaving the island bathed in sunshine.

Directions

Ferry from: under Forth Rail Bridge, B924, South Queensferry EH30 9TB

www.maidoftheforth.co.uk

www.forthtours.com

W3W: rocker.boater.greet GPS: 56.0300N 3.3016W

Dalmeny railway station 500m to ferry

The abbey is open daily from 1 April to 31 October. Ferries depart from Queensferry pier, beneath the Firth of Forth railway bridge. Be sure to buy a ticket that includes a landing on the island; ferry operators also sell entry tickets for the abbey. Advanced booking is recommended via the websites or by calling Maid of the Forth at 0131 331 5000 or Forth Boat Tours at 0131 331 3030. Ferries operate most days from April to October, with multiple departures daily in summer.

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Britain’s Pilgrim Places

This listing is an extract from Britain’s Pilgrim Places, written by Nick Mayhew-Smith and Guy Hayward and featuring hundreds of similar spiritually charged sites and landscapes from across Britain.

Proceeds from sale of the book directly support the British Pilgrimage Trust, a non-profit UK charity. Thank you.

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Island

Inchcolm Abbey, Inchcolm Island

Aberdour KY3 0XR

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