Inchcolm Island Landing Cruise under the Forth Bridge near Edinburgh

The Forth Bridge and the Queensferry crossings

The cruise starts at South Queensferry, where three bridges span the Firth of Forth within sight of each other. The red Forth Bridge, opened in 1890, is a cantilever railway bridge and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beside it stand the 1964 Forth Road Bridge and the modern Queensferry Crossing, opened in 2017. Seeing all three from the water gives you a scale that you cannot get from the shore.

Because the boat passes directly underneath, this is one of the best ways to appreciate the engineering, and it answers the common question of where to see the Forth Bridge up close. Take your camera and stay on deck if the weather allows. The audio commentary points out the fortress island of Inchgarvie beneath the spans and the history of the crossing.

Inchcolm Abbey, the Iona of the East

Inchcolm is often called the Iona of the East, and the abbey is the reason to land. According to tradition, King Alexander I was sheltered on the island by a hermit during a storm in 1123 and founded an Augustinian monastery in thanks. The medieval buildings, including the cloister, chapter house and tower, are the best-preserved group of monastic buildings in Scotland. The landing pass in your ticket covers access to the island, and the abbey is normally open to visitors in the main season.

Inside, the octagonal chapter house is a highlight, and the tower gives a view across the water. You can allow roughly an hour on shore to explore the abbey and the paths. Facilities on the island are basic, so bring layers and check the sailing times before you plan your Inchcolm Island visit.

Wildlife and wartime defences on the island

Inchcolm is a lovely place to look for wildlife. Grey seals rest on the rocks around the island and the boat slows for good views. Seabirds such as gulls and terns use the ground in the breeding season, so keep to the marked paths and give them space. On a clear day, the island is one of the best short nature walks close to Edinburgh.

The island was also a military position. Batteries and lookouts were built here in both World Wars to protect the naval base at Rosyth and the Forth, and the concrete gun emplacements and tunnels are still there to explore on the hill above the abbey. The mix of medieval and modern history is rare for such a small place, so allow time to wander.

Sailing details, weather and how to get to South Queensferry

South Queensferry is easy to reach from Edinburgh. Regular buses run from the city centre, and the railway station at Dalmeny is a short walk from the waterfront. If you are asking how to get to Inchcolm Island from Edinburgh, the route is simply to reach South Queensferry and board here. Your confirmation shows the pier and the departure time for your booked sailing.

Sailings depend on weather and tide, and the landing can be cancelled when the sea is too rough, in which case you would be contacted. The cruise runs mostly from spring to autumn, so the best time to visit Inchcolm Island is on a calm, dry day between late spring and early autumn, when the seals and seabirds are most active.