Cramond Island and the walkway seen from the shore.

Cramond Island 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 one third of a mile (0.5 km) long and covers an area of 19 acres, 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 and also by a long causeway. This allows easy access to visitors wishing to cross over. The island lies approximately one mile from the shore, and this should be taken into account when crossing, as the tides can quickly change, leaving visitors stranded. It may be seen as forming part of the estuary of the River Almond whose mouth is near the landward end of the causeway. Download high resolution version (2070x1306, 302 KB)Cramond Island Seen from the shore at low tide. ... Download high resolution version (2070x1306, 302 KB)Cramond Island Seen from the shore at low tide. ... The Firth of Forth from Calton Hill The Forth Bridges cross the Firth The Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of Scotlands River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh, and East Lothian to... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ), Dùn Èideann () in Scottish Gaelic, is the second-largest city in Scotland and its capital city. ... Cramond is a village built on the east side of the River Almond where it enters the Firth of Forth forming a natural harbour, now a suburb of Edinburgh. ... Dalmeny House Dalmeny House is a large baronial mansion and estate in Dalmeny on the Firth of Forth in Scotland. ... A tidal island is a piece of land that is connected to the mainland by a causeway exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide. ... The tide is the regular rising and falling of the oceans surface caused by changes in gravitational forces external to the Earth. ... In modern usage, a causeway is a road elevated by a bank, usually across a broad body of water or wetland. ... Estuaries and coastal waters are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing numerous ecological, economic, cultural, and aesthetic benefits and services. ... The River Almond is a river in east-central Scotland. ...

History

The ruined farmstead on Cramond Island.

There is archaeological 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 has been found there. Further excavations may reveal more about the human presence on the island. A cist (IPA ) is a small stone-built coffin-like box used to hold the bodies of the dead (notably during the Bronze Age in Britain and occasionally in Native American burials). ...

As nearby Cramond was a Roman outpost, it is highly likely that it may have been used in some capacity 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. Roman or Romans may refer to: History Ancient Rome Roman Kingdom (753 BC to 509 BC) Roman Republic (509 BC to 44 BC) Roman Empire (44 BC to AD 476) Roman citizen Byzantine Empire (330 to 1453), also known as the Eastern Roman Empire or the Empire of the Greeks... Trimontium is the name of a Roman fort at Newstead, near Melrose, Scotland, close under the three Eildon Hills (whence the name trium montium). ... The original Melrose is a town in the Scottish Borders a region of Scotland in the United Kingdom (see Melrose, Scotland). ...

Throughout most of its history, Cramond Island was used for farming, most likely sheep-farming, 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. Crassostrea gigas, Marennes-Oléron Crassostrea gigas, Marennes-Oléron Crassostrea gigas, Marennes-Oléron, opened The name oyster is used for a number of different groups of mollusks which grow for the most part in marine or brackish water. ... Alternate meanings: See Jetty (web server) Alternate meanings: See Jettying in buildings The term jetty, derived from the French jetie, and therefor signifying something thrown out, is applied to a variety of structures employed in river, dock and maritime works which are generally carried out in pairs from river banks... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... Bales of hay on a farm near Ames, Iowa A farm is the basic unit in agriculture. ... Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... // Events and trends A public speech by Benito Mussolini, founder of the Fascist movement The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the global depression. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ...

World War II

WW2-era fortifications on Cramond Island.

At the outbreak of war, 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 large number of these buildings still remain and can be explored by visitors. After crossing the causeway, the first structures that can be seen are the emplacements for a 75mm gun and its associated searchlight. More buildings can be found 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 all the military installations on the island. Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... A searchlight is an apparatus with reflectors for projecting a powerful beam of light of approximately parallel rays in a particular direction, usually devised so that it can be swiveled about. ...

Further along the northern coast, low concrete stumps can be seen sticking out of the undergrowth, all that remain of the barracks that housed the garrison on the island. Barracks is usally used to connote a type of military housing. ... Garrison House, built 1675, Dover, NH, USA In the military, garrison is the collective term for the body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base. ...

On the western side there 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. Boxes of ammunition clog a warehouse in Baghdad Ammunition is a generic military term meaning (the assembly of) a projectile and its propellant. ...

Cramond Island Today

The island remains a popular area of recreation for locals and visitors alike. Somewhat more controversially, Cramond Island has been used to host unofficial punk rock festivals, the last one being held in 2000. Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... A music festival is a festival that presents a number of musical performances usually tied together through a theme or genre. ... This article is about the year 2000. ...

External links

• Tide Times Note that these are the tide times of Leith, for Cramond simply add 4 Minutes. It is safe to cross over to Cramond Island between 2 hours before and 2 hours after low tide.
• Island of Punk Website