Hestan Island

Hestan Island is a small coastal island at the mouth of the River Urr estuary in Dumfries and Galloway. It measures about 460 by 270 metres and rises just over 50 metres above sea level. The island lies in the Solway Firth near Auchencairn Bay. A lighthouse was built on its eastern side in 1850 by Alan Stevenson. At low tide a shingle and mussel causeway appears from Almorness Point to the northern tip. The island can also be reached from Rockcliffe during spring tides by wading across the mudflats.

The island is known for its legends and history. At the southern tip stands ‘Daft Ann’s Steps’, a series of rock pinnacles linked to a local folktale. Near the north are ruins of a manor house built for Edward Balliol. In the 18th century the island served as a smuggling centre, with goods hidden in caves that once had rock-cut shelves. Samuel Rutherford Crockett wrote about this in his novel The Raiders. Across the water, Balcary House—now the Balcary Bay Hotel—was once used by smugglers to conceal contraband in its cellars.

Visitors find a quiet tidal island popular with sea kayakers. The island is one of 43 in Britain that can be walked to from the mainland at low tide. The lighthouse still stands on the eastern side. The natural causeway and surrounding mudflats offer a distinctive coastal walk. The ruins and caves add historical interest to the landscape. The nearby shore at Balcary Bay provides a place to rest after the crossing.