Isle of May National Nature Reserve

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Overview

The Isle of May stands like a long grey battleship guarding the mouth of the Firth of Forth. In early summer the cliffs are alive with nesting seabirds in a noisy spectacle that you can witness at close quarters from the clifftop path. The island is also home to the comical-looking puffin, a bird which charms visitors with its brightly coloured bill and quizzical looks. But there’s also a long and dark historical past here, and monks, Vikings and smugglers were on the list of previous visitors. Geologically, the island is important as a sill of volcanic rock, crossed by a series of faults which have eroded into steep gullies or geos. There are fine rock stacks, arches and caves all along the west cliffs. The spectacular cliffs on the southwest coast are where the huge colonies of seabirds nest in summer, while grey seals haul themselves ashore to breed in autumn on the lower, rocky coast to the east and north.

Location

ANSTRUTHER

About the area

This 20-mile wide peninsula between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay is an ancient kingdom, once the home of Scotland’s kings and saints. Despite its modern bridges it still seems curiously detached from the rest of the country.

Area image

Anstruther Fife Things To Do in Fife

Isle of May National Nature Reserve

ANSTRUTHER

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Isle of May National Nature Reserve

Recommended by

Overview

The Isle of May stands like a long grey battleship guarding the mouth of the Firth of Forth. In early summer the cliffs are alive with nesting seabirds in a noisy spectacle that you can witness at close quarters from the clifftop path. The island is also home to the comical-looking puffin, a bird which charms visitors with its brightly coloured bill and quizzical looks. But there’s also a long and dark historical past here, and monks, Vikings and smugglers were on the list of previous visitors. Geologically, the island is important as a sill of volcanic rock, crossed by a series of faults which have eroded into steep gullies or geos. There are fine rock stacks, arches and caves all along the west cliffs. The spectacular cliffs on the southwest coast are where the huge colonies of seabirds nest in summer, while grey seals haul themselves ashore to breed in autumn on the lower, rocky coast to the east and north.

Location

ANSTRUTHER

About the area

Area image

This 20-mile wide peninsula between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay is an ancient kingdom, once the home of Scotland’s kings and saints. Despite its modern bridges it still seems curiously detached from the rest of the country.

Anstruther Fife Things To Do in Fife