Cramond Island (Scottish Gaelic Eilean Chathair Amain) is one of several islands that lie in the Firth of Forth in eastern Scotland, near Edinburgh. As its name implies, it lies off Cramond. It is 1⁄3 miles (0.54 km) long and covers 7.7 hectares (19 acres),[1][2] and is currently part of the Dalmeny Estate.
Strictly speaking it is not a true island at all, but a tidal island being connected to the mainland at low tide. There is a paved path, exposed at low tide, which allows easy access. This path runs at the foot of a row of concrete pylons on one side of the causeway which were constructed as a submarine defence boom and are one of the most striking sights in the area. At high tide the island is cut off from the mainland, with the path several feet below sea level. It lies about a mile from the shore, and visitors should take care to leave sufficient time to walk back to the mainland. The speed with which the water rises can catch people unawares, leaving them stranded.[3] The island forms part of the estuary of the River Almond whose mouth is near the landward end of the crossing. It is a popular recreation area.
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There is evidence to suggest that the island may have had special significance to the prehistoric peoples who lived along the coast of the Firth of Forth, as at least one stone burial cist was found.
As nearby Cramond was a Roman outpost, it is likely that it may have been used by them. The Roman presence in Scotland was not particularly strong, but Cramond is one of the most archaeologically rich sites, along with Trimontium near Melrose.
Throughout most of its history, Cramond Island was used for farming, especially sheep-farming[2], and perhaps served as a fishing outpost as well. The island was once famous for its oyster beds, but these were destroyed due to overfishing. In the north west corner of the island there are remains of a jetty built with local stone which could be medieval in origin, while towards the centre of the island, half-hidden by a small wood there is the ruin of a stone-built farmstead. It appears on an Ordnance Survey map of 1853, but may be considerably older. It was occupied until the 1930s and sheep were still kept on the island as late as the 1960s.
At the outbreak of World War II, Cramond Island, along with other islands in the Forth, was fortified to protect the coasts in the event of enemy warships entering the channel. A number of these buildings remain and can be explored. After crossing the causeway, the first structures are the emplacements for a 75 mm gun and its associated searchlight. More buildings are in the north east corner of the island, which include a variety of stores, shelters and gun emplacements, as well as two engine rooms that once contained all the equipment necessary to supply power to the military installations on the island.
Further along the northern coast, low concrete stumps protrude from the undergrowth, all that remain of the barracks that housed the garrison on the island.
On the western side is small brick building of unknown purpose. Nearby, perched precariously on the rocky shore is the ruin of a small square building which was used as an ammunition store during the war, though its stone construction suggests it is much older than either World War, possibly contemporary with the farmstead in the middle of the island.
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