Craigs of Gives Den

Island in Angus

Scotland

Craigs of Gives Den

Sitka Spruce (Picea abies) Young cones developing. — Sitka Spruce (Picea abies) Credit: Anne Burgess

Craigs of Gives Den is a small island located off the coast of Angus, Scotland. It is situated in the North Sea, about 2 miles northeast of Arbroath. The island is part of a group of three small islands, including the nearby Bell Rock and Inchcape, which are known for their natural beauty and wildlife.

Craigs of Gives Den covers an area of approximately 6 acres and is characterized by rugged rocky terrain and steep cliffs that drop into the sea. The island is uninhabited and inaccessible to the public, making it a haven for various seabird species. It is particularly well-known for being a breeding ground for gannets, puffins, and kittiwakes.

Due to its isolated location, Craigs of Gives Den has a rich marine ecosystem surrounding it. The waters around the island are teeming with marine life, including seals, dolphins, and various species of fish. This makes it a popular spot for wildlife enthusiasts and birdwatchers, who can observe the diverse range of species from boat trips or viewpoints on the mainland.

The island's name, Craigs of Gives Den, originates from the Old Norse language and translates to "rocky gorge." This name accurately reflects the island's topography, with its rocky cliffs and deep gorges carved by the relentless force of the sea.

Overall, Craigs of Gives Den is a picturesque island that offers a glimpse into the natural beauty and wildlife diversity of the Angus coastline. Its rugged landscape and abundant birdlife make it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and those seeking a tranquil escape.

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Craigs of Gives Den Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.602553/-2.5005372 or Grid Reference NO6945. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Sitka Spruce (Picea abies)

Young cones developing.

Anne Burgess

Red Head Triangulation Pillar

The trig point is 81 metres above sea level. A path goes along the margin of the field. This was part of the waymarked Angus coastal path, but concerns for safety led to the waymarked route being diverted away from the cliffs altogether. Long before the development of the waymarked path, the actual path used to go along the cliffs outside the cultivated land altogether, but this probably wasn't very safe as the cliff edge is crumbling, and the old path is now overgrown and pretty much unusuable.

Anne Burgess

Red Head, Marshall's Craig and Auld Mains, Angus

The foreground of the photo shows the promontory of Red Head where archaeological fieldwork in 1961 revealed the site of what is thought to be an Iron Age fort. Using a direct line of sight over the seaward extremity of Red Head, the small east-northeast trending Marshall's Island can be seen. In the distance, beyond Marshall's Island, lies the peninsula of Auld Mains. According to Scotland's Places, Auld Mains is the "name applied to the furthest projecting point of Rock Skelly. It is very remarkable from the sea."

Adrian Diack

Southward view of Red Head and fringing islands, Angus

This photo was taken from the clifftop near East Comb and it looks south to Red Head and to a number of small islands which lie on the seaward side of it in the Cove of the Head. The islands, which have been eroded from the mainland, and caves undermining the headland, both show that active erosion is taking place at Red Head.

Adrian Diack

Cuthile Harbour, Ethie

From the clifftop.

Mike Pennington

Red Head, Ethie

Mike Pennington

Headland south of Red Head, Ethie

Mike Pennington

Red Head, Ethie

Mike Pennington

Trig point at Red Head, Ethie

Mike Pennington

Red Head

The highest point on the Angus Coast at about 80 metres. The shingle on the beach has formed into a series of ridges, each marking a high tide.

Anne Burgess

Red Head

The red rocks that give the headland its name are desert sandstones and lava flows.

Anne Burgess

Former Coastguard Station

Inside the fence there used to be a coastguard house. It was still there in the 1960s, but has since disappeared. Probably demolished, and the debris heaved over the cliff by passing vandals. Compare with NO7047 : Coastguard site, Red Head taken four years later. The fence posts have also vanished.

Anne Burgess

Cross-bedded Sandstone

This face in the disused quarry at Red Head shows cross-bedding in Old Red Sandstone laid down by desert winds when Scotland was at about the latitude of the Sahara Desert.

Anne Burgess

Tyres

Although the collection of old cars dumped over the cliff is rusting away, this is new. Someone has heaved a large quantity of old tyres over the edge on to the shore.

Anne Burgess

Old Tyres

Some of the large number of old tyres that some *********** has dumped over the edge of the cliff on to the shore. Supply your own word for the asterisks - most of the ones I can think of are unprintable.

Anne Burgess

Hawkwhat?

A Hawksbeard? Or a Hawkbit? or a Hawkweed? I have the greatest of difficulty deciding which species this sort of flower belongs to. It has more rows of petals than NO7047 : Hawkwhat?, and the ends of the petals are not as deeply cut.

Anne Burgess

Hawkwhat?

A Hawksbeard? Or a Hawkbit? or a Hawkweed? I have the greatest of difficulty deciding which species this sort of flower belongs to. It does look different from NO7047 : Hawkwhat?, having only two rings of petals with deeper slits in them.

Anne Burgess