The Maid of the Forth – Inchcolm Abbey and the Forth Bridges
A day, from Waverley Station and back.
The route
From Hawes Pier in South Queensferry, right under the Forth Bridge, the Maid of the Forth sails beneath all three of the Forth's bridges and out to Inchcolm, a small island crowned by a medieval abbey.
You have an hour and a half ashore to climb the abbey tower, find the old wartime defences and sit on the island's little beaches. The train from Waverley takes you there, and lunch is by the pier.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Book the Maid of the Forth's Inchcolm Landing Trip online, from April to October, and add the island's landing fee in the booking's extras; collect the tickets from the office at the top of Hawes Pier at least 15 minutes before sailing.
Book the Railbridge Bar & Bistro
Book a table online on fine weekends.
(1)-large-1778448485.jpg)
The day
South Queensferry
A day on the water beneath the great red bridge, with a medieval island to explore in the middle of it and a long lunch by the pier.
About five and a half hours
Inchcolm
An attraction
Take the train from Waverley to Dalmeny (check the times), then it's a 12-minute walk down the path under the Forth Bridge to Hawes Pier in South Queensferry. Book the Maid of the Forth's three-hour Inchcolm Landing Trip online, from £21 for an adult at the time of writing, and add the island's landing fee in the booking. Landing trips run from April to October, and you collect your tickets from the office at the top of the pier at least 15 minutes before you sail. The boat takes you under the three Forth bridges and puts you ashore on Inchcolm for 90 minutes. The 12th-century abbey is remarkably complete, so climb its tower for the view, then find the wartime gun emplacements and the tunnel at the island's east end. Bring a picnic: the island has toilets and a small shop but no café.
5 min on foot
The Railbridge Bar & Bistro
Lunch
The Railbridge is 5 minutes' walk from the pier, under the bridge at 4 Newhalls Road, with views of all three bridges. It serves food every day from 9am to 9pm, so lunch can come before you sail or when you're back. Book a table online on fine weekends. It's good for children and has wheelchair access. From here it's 11 minutes' walk up to Dalmeny station.
If it rains
Rain makes for a damp island, so bring waterproofs; the boat has a bar and toilets on board, and lunch at the Railbridge is indoors, with a view of the bridges.
Photograph by caledonianino