Froglette called me earlier today, to let me know she had just landed safely on Inchkeith Island, where she, our son and their fellow shipmates were to spend the afternoon before returning to Burntisland. The trip was part of Scottish Archaeology Month.
Inchkeith has a very interesting history and is now the property of Sir Tom Farmer. I mentioned this to a friend, who suggested that perhaps Froglette could have put up a few CATS posters while she was there. But why stop there? We could charter a boat and occupy the island!
In 1497, victims of the plague in Edinburgh were isolated on Inchkeith, so a witty headline for this occupation might be 'A plague upon your superstore, Sir Tom!'
Disclaimer - the foregoing message is intended as a joke. Portobello Online does not advocate the grossly irresponsible and certainly illegal occupation of territories belonging to Sir Tom Farmer, who would never knowingly threaten the livelihood of local traders, nor seek to undermine our community in the interest of profit.
Inchkeith Island
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Guest
Photos from the trip to Inchkeith, courtesy of Lindsay
View the whole set at:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v431/bobjefferson/
View the whole set at:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v431/bobjefferson/
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Guest
Marya, that was Inchmickery, which I have just learned was used as a location for 'Complicity', a film based on the Iain Banks novel of the same name.
ecm - there are no excursions to Inchkeith. Apparently hundreds of people applied for tickets for this event but there were only 2 trips and the boat only held a dozen people. If they get permission, the organisers hope to hold a similar event next year.
ecm - there are no excursions to Inchkeith. Apparently hundreds of people applied for tickets for this event but there were only 2 trips and the boat only held a dozen people. If they get permission, the organisers hope to hold a similar event next year.
I can see why the trips might be so popular. There's something quite mysterious and compelling about these Forth islands.
The one I would really like to visit is the Isle of May which depending on the weather is sometimes visible from Porty. It has no less than 3 lighthouses on it and if I wasn't such a terrible sailor I'd make the trip from Anstruther sometime.
It's not that I suffer from sea-sickness, I just get quite terrified if I lose sight of land. That wouldn't happen on trips to these islands so I think I'd be OK.
We sailed from Rosyth to Zeebrugge last year on the Superfast ferry it was the longest 18 hours of my life. And could I get drunk enough to calm down?
Could I buggery!
The one I would really like to visit is the Isle of May which depending on the weather is sometimes visible from Porty. It has no less than 3 lighthouses on it and if I wasn't such a terrible sailor I'd make the trip from Anstruther sometime.
It's not that I suffer from sea-sickness, I just get quite terrified if I lose sight of land. That wouldn't happen on trips to these islands so I think I'd be OK.
We sailed from Rosyth to Zeebrugge last year on the Superfast ferry it was the longest 18 hours of my life. And could I get drunk enough to calm down?
Could I buggery!
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Guest
You may be interested in a video entitled 'Forth Islands'. You can order it at Portobello Library. It includes interviews with the last lighthouse keepers on Inchkeith before it was automated. Lindsay the Book recalls sending consignments of books to the keepers. Apparently, they mostly read westerns.
ecm: I handed the video back to Lindsay on Saturday, so it should still be in her possession when the library opens again on Monday. Hopefully you will be able to get it before she sends it back to Morningside (from whence it came). The trip to Inchkeith was fab and I could bore everyone to death going on about it. I am now making it a personal challenge to try and visit all the islands in the Forth.
I also want to go the the Isle of May. One of the archaeologists involved in the Inchkeith trip has recently written a book about the wildlife and fortifications on the island. This is of personal interest to me as my grandad worked on the fortifications there during WWII. Perhaps we could meet up and do the trip together?
I also want to go the the Isle of May. One of the archaeologists involved in the Inchkeith trip has recently written a book about the wildlife and fortifications on the island. This is of personal interest to me as my grandad worked on the fortifications there during WWII. Perhaps we could meet up and do the trip together?
Hi Froglette,
I'm very envious of your recent voyage.
I holidayed a lot in the East Neuk of Fife over the years and never got round to doing the trip on the Isle of May ferry from Anstruther. It sails through to October but as you'll see from the website landings are not guaranteed due to tides and conditions. It would be a bit of a blow to sail out and not be able to land.
We're off to Belgium for a holiday in a couple of weeks and won't be back til early October perhaps we could plan a trip next year in the spring time?
I'm not chickening out - honest. I'd love to do it but time will be a bit tight for this years sailing schedule.
It could be a jolly-up with some of those famous fish and chips on disembarking? Perhaps some other ladies might like to join us?
I'm very envious of your recent voyage.
I holidayed a lot in the East Neuk of Fife over the years and never got round to doing the trip on the Isle of May ferry from Anstruther. It sails through to October but as you'll see from the website landings are not guaranteed due to tides and conditions. It would be a bit of a blow to sail out and not be able to land.
We're off to Belgium for a holiday in a couple of weeks and won't be back til early October perhaps we could plan a trip next year in the spring time?
I'm not chickening out - honest. I'd love to do it but time will be a bit tight for this years sailing schedule.
It could be a jolly-up with some of those famous fish and chips on disembarking? Perhaps some other ladies might like to join us?
We went to Inchcolm a while ago for a 40th birthday picnic and it was brilliant. Only downside was that you don't get very long on the island because in the summer months there are so many people that you have to go back on the next boat to the one you came off so that the island doesn't get overcrowded!ecm wrote:
There are ferry trips available to Inchcolm Island from Newhaven and South Queensferry that I meant to take advantage of during the school hols but it never worked out.
I love Inchcolm. I've been down there several times, and could happily go back. I seem to remember that I managed to spend a whole day there, by going on one of the early boats, and coming back on the last one.
Also, ecm, you are never actually out of sight of land, so you would be OK. The people who run the ferry ('Maid of the Forth') used to do a very interesting commentary as you went down the Firth, telling you all about the other islands and some of the places on the shore, and there is a place on the island sells walk-round guides.
I really would love to go to the Isle of May too.
Did you know a ferry used to run excursions form Porty beach? An old lady I met on the prom. was telling me about it.
Also, ecm, you are never actually out of sight of land, so you would be OK. The people who run the ferry ('Maid of the Forth') used to do a very interesting commentary as you went down the Firth, telling you all about the other islands and some of the places on the shore, and there is a place on the island sells walk-round guides.
I really would love to go to the Isle of May too.
Did you know a ferry used to run excursions form Porty beach? An old lady I met on the prom. was telling me about it.
Jay
'Jay - a noisy chattering European bird of brilliant plumage' OED
'Jay - a noisy chattering European bird of brilliant plumage' OED
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