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Inchcolm Abbey

Inchcolm Abbey was established on this island originally as a priory by David I in 1140. It is the best-preserved group of monastic buildings in Scotland.

There is currently no visitor access to the walled garden and the hermit's cell while we undertake conservation works.  Find out more about our conservation work

It was the dream of Alexander I to establish a monastery on the island after he sheltered on it during a storm. But following his death, it was his brother David I who invited Augustinian canons to establish a priory, which was later given full abbey status.

The abbey has a dramatic location which you can see from the boat before you arrive on the island. The medieval stone screens inside the belltower are rare survivals of medieval church fixtures and the 13th century well-painting is a rare medieval fresco.

The island is also famed for its seals, wildlife and coastal defences from the two world wars.

Getting there by railway:- A short walk to the jetty in South Queensferry from Dalmeny Station.

Getting there by ferry:- From Hawes Peir, South Queensferry sailing to the island telephone 0131 331 4857 for details of sailings.

Boarding and leaving the ferry may be difficult for visitors using wheelchairs but once on site, the shop, display area, all gardens and the ground floor of the abbey are accessible. The upper floor of the abbey is not suitable for visitors using wheelchairs as access is by turnpike stair.

Save with an Explorer Pass

An Explorer Pass, valid for 14 consecutive days, is a great way to explore our iconic sites.

Very occasionally the property has to close at short notice due to adverse weather conditions or other reasons out with our control. Please check the Historic Scotland closures page for any unexpected site closures https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/check-for-closures/ .You can also follow closure tweets from @welovehistory using #hsclosure. Alternatively please call the site before setting off to check they are open.

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ADD A GUIDED WALKING TOUR ON TO YOUR VISIT TO INCHCOLM ISLAND

Join our “Black Canon” guides on the “Iona of the East” Inchcolm Island. Visit Inchcolm Abbey which dates back to the 12 th Century and the islands military defences from two World Wars.

Take a walk in the footsteps of kings, clergy, sailors and soldiers and venture forward into the past. You’ll be surprised at what hidden tales await you!

Duration: The walking tour is approximately 50mins. The overall trip to the island is 3 hours –1.5 hours on the Island.

Booking: All bookings are through Maid of the Forth.

TO CHECK AVAILABILITY, BOOK YOUR BOAT TRIP AND WALKING TOUR CLICK MAID OF THE FORTH BELOW.

Complete Visitor Guide for Inchcolm Island and Abbey

• Last Updated: February 14, 2023

Scotland is home to many fascinating buildings, and Inchcolm Abbey is definitely high up on the list.

The island on which the abbey sits is located in the Firth of Forth and despite its apparent remoteness is only 6 miles from the centre of Edinburgh – this makes it the perfect day trip from the capital.

Inchcolm Abbey escaped the destruction that came with the Scottish Reformation which is why it is considered the best-preserved monastic building in the country.

We’ve put together this Complete Visitor Guide so you can get all the info you’ll need for your trip to Inchcolm Island and Abbey.

The strategic location of Inchcolm Island has leant itself well as a refuge point for millennia.

In fact, it’s thought that the Romans, Vikings, and early Christian missionaries have all paid it a visit at one time or another.

The island’s documented history starts around the early 12 th century. During this time Inchcolm Island was home to a small group of Augustine hermits that had separated themselves from life on the mainland and found peace on the island.

If legend is to be believed, during a stormy night in 1123, King Alexander I was marooned on the island and in search of rescue. He was aided by one of the island’s hermits who allowed him to stay in his small shelter.

This act touched the king and he vowed to build a monastery on the island as a way of thanks.

The hundred years that followed this saw life on the island grow and the monastery was eventually upgraded to Abbey status in 1235.

However, life would not always be peaceful on Inchcolm Island. Through the Middle Ages and beyond, the monks were raided many times by English invaders which eventually drove them to desert it.

Since then, the island has been fortified to protect Edinburgh and the Scottish waterways from invasion. This first happened during the Napoleonic wars however the most major placements came during WW1 and WW2 – you can still see many of the fortifications to this day.

How to get there

Most visitors to Inchcolm Island will arrive on one of two ferry services:

• Maid of the Forth
• Forth Boat Tours

Both companies are very similar however we’ve always picked Maid of the Forth as it is slightly cheaper.

Regardless of who you go with, the ferry will depart from the port at South Queensferry and take a beautiful, but sometimes windy, trip out and under the majestic Forth Rail Bridge.

The whole journey (there and back) takes 1.5 hours, and they suggest you spend a further 1.5 hours exploring the island. Of course, if you get an early ferry you can always hang around on the island for longer and catch a later one back.

On your approach to Inchcolm Island you may be lucky enough to see some amazing wildlife – we were welcomed by a large group of sunbathing seals on our last trip!

The ferry and the island are owned by two different organisations so two separate tickets need to be purchased, one for the ferry and another to access the island.

NOTE: At the time of writing, access to the island is free as some areas are closed for conservation. Further details on tickets and opening times can be found here.

Things to do

A trip to Inchcolm Island is always a fantastic day out. Here’s a list of some of our favourite things to do:

1. Enjoy the Boat Trip

For many, the ferry ride out from the pier at Queensferry is one of the highlights of their trip to Inchcolm Island.

The ferry sails directly underneath the magnificent Forth Rail Bridge giving you unmatched views of this icon of Scotland.

You will also be amazed at all the wildlife you’ll be able to spot – it’s definitely worth the admission price!

2. Visit Inchcolm Abbey

Although some of you will have visited similar structures before, the completeness of Inchcolm Abbey really does set it apart from the rest.

If you are lucky enough to find a quiet spot in the abbey, we recommend you stop for a moment and imagine what monastic life would have been like here all those years ago.

To boost your imagination there are plenty of information boards around showing you what it would have looked like in its heyday.

3. Explore WW2 Defences

One of our top tips for visiting Inchcolm Island is that when you arrive don’t rush off to the abbey as this is what everyone else will do.

Instead, take the short (but steep) walk up the east side of the island and you will eventually be greeted by an abandoned set of WW2 gun placements.

The remnants of these fortifications are great to explore and from the top you get a spectacular view out over the whole island and across the water to Edinburgh.

4. See the Hermit’s Cell

If the stories are to be believed, the small building just outside the western wall of the abbey is the exact place where King Alexander I sought refuge after being marooned on the island 900 years ago.

Now known as the Hermit’s Cell, its difficult to imagine how anyone could live in such a modest space.

Although very small, it’s worth paying a visit to get an idea of how the hermit’s used to live.

5. Walk to the West Side

Once you’re done exploring Inchcolm Abbey, take a wander over to the island’s western edge.

This side of the island is often neglected by tourists so you will likely be the only people here which is nice for a bit of peace and quiet.

The grassland here is home to many nesting birds so watch your feet as without any natural predators on the island, they’ve become accustomed to laying their eggs all over!

6. Enjoy a Picnic

You are likely to spend at least 3 hours out and about on your trip to Inchcolm Island, so we recommend you come prepared!

There are no places to buy food once you arrive however there are plenty of amazing spots you can choose for a picnic.

Some of our favourites are the:

• beach to the south of the abbey
• grassy area surrounding the abbey
• quiet, west side of the island.

7. Explore Queensferry

Once you’ve arrived back on the mainland don’t rush off back home, instead, spend an hour or two exploring the scenic village of Queensferry.

The village is very walkable and has a host of shops and cafes offering great local products.

When you are here, be sure to enjoy and ice cream while looking out over the water to the three bridges – it’s one of the best views in Scotland.

Tips 1. There is nowhere to buy food on the island so bring a picnic – there are plenty of lovely places to sit. 2. There’s more to the island than just the abbey, spend your time exploring everything . 3. Don’t forget you need to buy two tickets. One for the ferry ride and one for island access.

Accommodation

Queensferry is only 10 miles from the centre of Edinburgh so you can easily travel there and back in one day. However, if you want some more time to explore this part of the world there are plenty of accommodation options to choose from:

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Take in spectacular views of the Three Bridges & the Edinburgh skyline, the seals and other marine wildlife.

INCHCOLM ISLAND CRUISE

Cruise along the Firth of Forth and view the Three Bridges and the 12th century Inchcolm Abbey. Look out for the seals and other marine wildlife

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Enjoy an afternoon tea or a cream tea on your cruise and take in the views of Blackness Castle.

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The History Hit Miscellany of Facts, Figures and Fascinating Finds

Inchcolm Abbey

Scotland, Scotland, United Kingdom

Inchcolm Abbey is a well-preserved twelfth century Augustinian monastery turned abbey located in an important defensive position.

Peta Stamper

10 may 2021.

About Inchcolm Abbey

Inchcolm Abbey meaning ‘Colm’s Isle’ was established as an Augustinian monastery in the 12th century by David I, becoming an abbey in 1235. During the wars between England and Scotland, the location of Inchcolm Abbey in Scotland meant that it was constantly under attack.

The island of Inchcolm Abbey continued to play a defensive role in the Napoleonic Wars and World War Two. Despite its turbulent history Inchcolm Abbey remains remarkably intact: the 13th century cloisters are celebrated as some of the most well-preserved of their kind and visitors can even see a rare funereal fresco from the same period.

Inchcolm Abbey history

Before the abbey was founded, it is believed that a hermit lived on the island which was also home to a 10th century ‘hogback’ tombstone relic. Alexander I sheltered on the island during a storm in 1123, vowing to set up a monastery in thanks for surviving. While Alexander died before fulfilling this promise, his brother David I did not.

Under David’s orders, Augustinian canons settled in Inchcolm from the early 1100s to enjoy the island’s isolation and peace. Abbot Walter Bower found enough tranquility to write a great history of Scotland, ‘Scotichronicon’, during the mid-15th century.

However, being located within the Firth of Forth also meant Inchcolm easily became the target of English naval raids between the 14th and 16th century wars. The monks spent more time on land in Fife until the Scottish Reformation of 1560 ended monastic life, the stones from the abbey used to help repair Edinburgh’s Tolbooth in 1581.

Afterwards, Inchcolm was continuously used for defensive purposes until World War Two : in 1795 during the Napoleonic Wars , a gun battery was installed when the French threatened invasion. During the early 20th century, Inchcolm was further fortified to help defend Edinburgh, the Rosyth Naval Base and the Forth Bridge.

Inchcolm Abbey today

Today, Inchcolm Abbey has the most complete surviving remains of any Scottish monasteries and is managed by Historic Environment Scotland. What remains are the cloisters, chapter house and refectory while the church is least well-preserved.

The island is also known for its seal population and other varied wildlife. Visitors must get a ferry to the island with a ticket separate to their entry to the abbey, which is a £6 standard ticket.

Getting to Inchcolm Abbey

There are 2 ferries from Hawes Pier, South Queensferry: Fourth Tours and Maid of the Forth. To drive from Edinburgh, 45 minutes away, take the A90 and M90 across the Forth Bridge and then get a ferry. Via public transport, get a Scotrail train from Edinburgh Waverley to Inverkeithing (they run every 15 minutes and the journey takes 23 minutes). From Inverkeithing you can walk to the ferry port in around an hour.

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Inchcolm abbey.

Inchcolm Island, Burntisland, KY3 0UA

• 07918 337 097

Inchcolm means ‘Colm’s Isle’, yet the ‘Iona of the east’ has no known link to the living St Columba. A dramatically sited abbey complex – Scotland’s best-preserved group of monastic buildings – dominates the island.

The Augustinian canons settled here in the early 1100s, to enjoy the island’s peace and isolation. But Inchcolm’s Firth of Forth location also made it a target. English naval raids were common during the wars with England from the 1300s to the mid-1500s.

The brethren spent more and more time ashore in Fife, until the Protestant Reformation of 1560 finally brought monastic life to an end. Inchcolm continued to serve in the defence of the country right up to the Second World War.

The island’s remains testify to this history of conflict as well as the history of the medieval church in Scotland.

An island retreat

It’s said that the island retreat was home to a hermit before the foundation of the abbey. Inchcolm’s oldest relic is a 10th-century ‘hogback’ tombstone.

Alexander I sheltered here during a storm in 1123 and resolved to build a monastery in thanks for his life being saved. He died in 1124 before being able to keep his promise. So his brother, David I, invited Augustinian canons to establish the island priory. Inchcolm was raised to full abbey status in 1235.

The abbey church was enlarged to the east around 1265. In the 1400s, a new church was built, and an abbot’s residence created above the original church. The choir of the 13th-century church became the nave of the later church and is now mostly wall footings. But a striking fresco painting of a funeral procession, dating from the 1200s, survives in a tomb recess. Also remarkable are the stone screens dividing the choir from the nave.

The cloister is the most complete in Scotland, and three covered cloister walks survive. The octagonal chapter house dates from the 1200s. A fine warming room sits above it, and the dormitory, refectory and other rooms also survive. They are roofed – some more recently.

Island of conflict

English ships attacked Inchcolm many times in the later Middle Ages, forcing the canons to desert the abbey for periods. Abbot Walter Bower found peace enough to write his great history of Scotland, Scotichronicon, from here in the mid-1400s, however.

The story of conflict continued even after the abbey’s demise. In 1795, during the Napoleonic Wars, a gun battery was installed when the French threatened to invade.

Inchcolm was heavily fortified in the early 1900s to help defend:

• the Rosyth naval base
• the Forth Bridge

Opening times

1 Apr to 30 Sept: Daily, 10.30am to 5.30pm (last entry at 4.45pm). 1 to 31 Oct: Daily, 9.30am to 4.30pm (last entry 4pm). 1 Nov to 31 Mar: Closed

Inchcolm Abbey Statement of Significance

Inchcolm abbey on scran.

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Inchcolm Abbey on Canmore

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