Islands · Scottish Lowlands
Ailsa Craig
Also known as: Creag Ealasaid
Ailsa Craig — island in the outer Firth of Clyde, South Ayrshire, Scotland, UK.
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Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 4 h–12 h
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
About
Ailsa Craig is a island in the United Kingdom. It covers approximately 99 km². Wikidata describes it as: "island in the outer Firth of Clyde, South Ayrshire, Scotland, UK". Coordinates: 55.2519°, -5.1164°.
Photo gallery
From the Wikipedia article
Ailsa Craig (; Scottish Gaelic: Creag Ealasaid) is an island of 99 ha (1 km2; 245 acres) in the outer Firth of Clyde, 16 km (8+1⁄2 nmi) west of mainland Scotland. The island's microgranite has long been quarried to make curling stones. The now-uninhabited island comprises an eroded magmatic pluton formed during the same period of igneous activity as magmatic rocks on the nearby Isle of Arran. The island, colloquially known as "Paddy's Milestone" because it is halfway between Belfast and Glasgow, was a haven for Catholics during the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century, but is today a bird sanctuary, providing a home for huge numbers of gannets and an increasing number of puffins.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
in 1840]] In 1590 the shipping of the Clyde was disrupted by pirates who were said to be Highlanders, . Margaret Girvan ran a tearoom famed for its pristine white table cloths and fresh scones. Girvan kept goats in stone-built goat rees or pens on the good grazing near Garry Loch. The feral billy goats were wont to interfere with these nanny goats and this was another reason for their demise. An annual hunt of the solan geese or gannets took place in the days of Robert Burns as the flesh was considered a delicacy. Robert Burns's maternal uncle Samuel Burns was involved in the solan goose trade.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 55.2519, -5.1164
Sources
- wikidata: Q405346 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Ailsa Craig (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Ailsa Craig Scotland 2022.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
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Nearby
📷 3Wildlife reserves · Scottish Lowlands
Ailsa Craig RSPB Reserve
Ailsa Craig RSPB Reserve — RSPB nature reserve in South Ayrshire, Scotland, UK.
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Ailsa Castle
Ailsa Castle — a castle in scotland-lowlands, United Kingdom.
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Ailsa Craig Castle
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Keepers' Cottages and Foghorn, Lighthouse, Foreland Point, Ailsa Craig
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Ailsa Craig Lighthouse
Ailsa Craig Lighthouse — active 19th century lighthouse located on Ailsa Craig, Scotland.
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Ailsa Craig?
- Ailsa Craig is in Scottish Lowlands, in the United Kingdom — coordinates 55.2519°, -5.1164°.
- Is Ailsa Craig free to visit?
- Yes — admission to Ailsa Craig is free.