Car Craig

Island in Fife

Scotland

Car Craig

Oxcars lighthouse With a gull in the foreground and Leith docks in the background. — Oxcars lighthouse Credit: James Allan

Car Craig is a small island located in the Firth of Forth, off the coast of Fife, Scotland. It is situated approximately 1.5 kilometers east of the town of Aberdour. The island has a unique rocky and rugged coastline, with steep cliffs rising from the sea.

Covering an area of around 0.4 hectares, Car Craig is relatively small in size. It is uninhabited and lacks any infrastructure or facilities. The island is privately owned and access is restricted to the public. However, it is often visited by boat enthusiasts, birdwatchers, and nature lovers due to its rich biodiversity.

The island is home to a variety of seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, and razorbills, which nest on the cliffs during the breeding season. The surrounding waters are teeming with marine life, making Car Craig an ideal spot for snorkeling and diving.

Car Craig also holds historical significance. It is believed to have been used as a lookout point during World War II due to its strategic location. Ruins of a small structure, possibly a watchtower or observation post, can still be seen on the island.

Overall, Car Craig is a picturesque and secluded island with stunning natural beauty and wildlife. Its rugged coastline, diverse bird population, and historical remnants make it a fascinating destination for those seeking a peaceful retreat or an adventure in nature.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Car Craig Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.033666/-3.2866317 or Grid Reference NT1983. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Oxcars lighthouse

With a gull in the foreground and Leith docks in the background.

James Allan

Oxcars Lighthouse

The light is on a skerry which sits in the middle of the Firth of Forth, uncomfortably close to shipping lanes. The rock is submerged at high water and is not visible here. The backdrop is The Bin, above Burntisland.

Richard Webb

Deep channel marker buoy

These mark the deep channel to the north of Oxcars. They are popular haulouts for seals.

Richard Webb

Oxcars Lighthouse

The lighthouse at high water with Edinburgh in the background.

Richard Webb

Beacons at Hawkcraig Point

Apparently used by tankers coming into the Braehead Oil Terminal. The new steps are part of the Fife Coastal Path heading east from Aberdour to Burntisland.

M J Richardson

Teasels at Hawkcraig Point

With one of the two navigation beacons for Braefoot behind.

M J Richardson

Hawkcraig and teasels

Looking across Silversands Bay to the transmitter on The Binn, beyond Burntisland.

M J Richardson

Beacon at Hawkcraig Point

One of two to assist tankers heading for Braefoot Oil Terminal. With Edinburgh and Arthurs seat 14 km across the Firth of Forth.

M J Richardson

Wind-batterd hawthorn at Hawkcraig Point

With Inchkeith in the distance.

M J Richardson

Hawkcraig Point from Silversands

Looking across the Firth of Forth to Edinburgh.

M J Richardson

Oxcars and the Cow & Calves

With the larger Inchmickery in the foreground. The boundary between Fife and the City of Edinburgh runs between Oxcars [with the light] and the Cow & Calves.

M J Richardson