Tour Scotland 4K travel video of the sight and sounds of a boat trip to Inchcolm Island, Scottish Gaelic Innis Choluim, on ancestry, history visit to Firth of Forth, Britain, United Kingdom. It comprises an ancient religious site including remains of a medieval abbey. Inchcolm was anciently known as Emona, Aemonia or Innis Choluim. It may have been used by the Roman fleet in some capacity, as they had a strong presence at Cramond for a few years, and had to travel to the Antonine Wall. It was supposedly visited by St Columba, an Irish missionary monk in 567, and was named after him in the 12th century. It may have served the monks of the Columban family as an Iona of the east from early times. Like other centres of Culdee activity, the island was used as a home for hermits. Like nearby Inchkeith and the Isle of May, Inchcolm was attacked repeatedly by English raiders in the 14th century. This was the period of the Scottish Wars of Independence, and decisive battles were being fought in the Lothians and in the Stirling and Bannockburn region, and so the island was effectively in the route of any supply or raiding vessels. In 1335, there was an especially bad raid by an English ship when the abbey's treasures were stolen, along with a statue of Columba. The story goes that the ship was nearly wrecked on Inchkeith and had to dock at Kinghorn. The sailors taking a religious turn, thought that this was due to the wrath of Columba, returned the statue and treasures to the island, and experienced good weather on their outward journey. In 1384, an English raid attempted to set alight Inchcolm Abbey, but this again was foiled by the weather, in this case a strong wind blew out the flames. In the 16th century, the island suffered further English depredation. In 1547, after the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, Inchcolm was fortified by the English, like nearby Inchgarvie, while Inchkeith was occupied by their Italian mercenaries for two years. During both the First World War and the Second World War, Inchcolm was part of the defences of the Firth of Forth. Inchcolm was the HQ of what were called in the First World War the Middle defences, the main element of which was a continuous anti-submarine and anti-boat boom across the river. The defences were intended to protect the naval anchorage between Inchcolm and the Forth Rail Bridge. Inchcolm lies in the Firth of Forth off the south coast of Fife opposite Braefoot Bay, east of the Forth Bridge, south of Aberdour, Fife, and north of the City of Edinburgh. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day. Find things to see and do in Scotland where you are always welcome.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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