Inch Garvie

Inch Garvie is a small, uninhabited island in the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh. It stands between North and South Queensferry, where boats once crossed the firth. The island’s rocky profile resembles a small warship from a distance. Four concrete caissons form the foundations of the Forth Bridge on its rocks. Inch Garvie has been inhabited at different times, first recorded in the late 15th century. Its strategic position made it important for defence. King James IV ordered a tower built in 1513, managed by Margaret, Lady of Dundas. The castle served as a prison from 1519 to 1671 and held plague victims in 1580. Oliver Cromwell demolished the fortress after capturing it in 1651. Later, it became a quarantine hospital and a construction base for the Forth Bridge. Visitors see the remains of the old castle and the bridge foundations. The island’s igneous rock and glacial crag-and-tail shape are visible. Nearby gun emplacements once defended the firth. The island’s history is marked by royal orders, military sieges and engineering feats. Its quiet presence contrasts with the busy bridge above.