Inchcape

Inchcape, also known as the Bell Rock, is a reef situated about 18 kilometres off the east coast of Angus in Scotland. It lies near Dundee and Fife and is home to the Bell Rock Lighthouse. The reef’s name comes from the Scottish Gaelic ‘Innis Sgeap’, meaning ‘beehive isle’, describing its shape. A 14th-century attempt to place a warning bell on the reef led to its alternative name. The bell was removed by a Dutch pirate who later died on the rocks, a tale immortalised in Robert Southey’s 1802 poem ‘The Inchcape Rock’. The reef poses a major hazard to ships because only a small part is visible above water. A large, shallow area surrounds it, making navigation treacherous. In 1915, HMS Argyll ran aground there. The rock was featured in a BBC documentary about the Bell Rock Lighthouse’s construction. Work on the lighthouse began in 1807 and was mostly finished by 1810. The rock is made of Old Red Sandstone, the same stone used in nearby Arbroath Abbey. Robert Stevenson, the engineer behind the lighthouse, measured the reef at about 435 metres long and 91 metres wide. The lighthouse stands as a lasting reminder of the dangers the reef once posed. Visitors can see the stark, rugged landscape of the reef from a distance. The surrounding waters remain a challenge for modern ships.