How to visit Cramond Island near Edinburgh Scotland

If you’re looking for a unique adventure during your stay in Edinburgh, Cramond Island is a must-visit destination.

This tidal island in the Firth of Forth is easily accessible via a long walkway that was built as a World War II anti-tank barricade. But, you’ll need to check the tide times before you go as the Cramond Island causeway is submerged under the waters at high tide.

Cramon Island is one of a few islands near Edinburgh (one of the others being Bass Rock near North Berwick)

Since we were staying in Edinburgh for a month we had plenty of time to plan our visit to Cramond Island. We kept a close eye on the weather and tide times to ensure that they matched up with low tides and nice weather (which is rare in January in Scotland!).

If you’re looking for unusual or unique things to do near Edinburgh, then Cramond Island is the perfect place. You’ll get sea views, and a nice walk and there are also some other fun attractions nearby including South Queensferry, Lauriston Castle and Silverknowles beach which can make it a fun day trip from Edinburgh.

Below, I’ll share everything you need to know to plan your own visit to Cramond Island, including tips for timing your trip to avoid getting stranded on the island and recommendations for other outdoor places to explore in the area.

How to get to Cramond Island

Getting to Cramond Island from Edinburgh is nice and easy.

The island is just five miles from Edinburgh city centre and is easily accessible by public transport.

One of the best ways to reach Cramond is to take the 41 bus from Princes Street in the city centre. This bus will take you directly to Cramond, and the journey takes approximately 40 minutes.

Once you arrive at Cramond, you’ll need to take a short walk to the waterside where you’ll find the causeway that leads to Cramon Island.

If you plan on driving to Cramond, there is some free parking in the village. But, if you’re visiting at the weekend on a sunny day, or during summer, the car park may be full so you should allow time to find alternative parking.

Need to rent a car in Edinburgh?

I use comparison sites like DiscoverCars and RentalCars to book my car rentals as it’s easy to check prices and compare the best deals!

The History of Cramond Island

Cramond Island has a rich and varied history and it’s believed the island was first used by the Romans as a defence fort for the harbour in Cramond village.

Since that time, the island has had many uses including being used for sheep grazing during the 1800s.

During both World War I and II, Cramond Island was used to defend the Firth of Forth with the island being fortified with naval guns and used as a lookout post.

When you visit Cramond Island, you can still see the remains of military buildings, including concrete bunkers and barracks.

You’ll also notice the concrete pylons that look a bit like giant teeth running alongside the causeway. These were built during World War II to prevent boats and submarines from reaching the mainland.

Today, there is no one using Cramond Island for any particular purpose other than the walkers that come here.

Walking to Cramond Island

The walk to Cramond Island near Edinburgh is a popular and enjoyable way to spend a few hours. Access to the island is via a causeway that leads from the village along a WWII anti-tank barricade. The walk to Cramond Island is easy and gives you some great views of the Firth of Forth, with the coastline of Fifre ahead of you and the city of Edinburgh and the Forth bridges to your right and left.

At low tide, you simply walk the straight causeway path to reach Cramond Island. This is about 1 kilometre long and completely flat.

Along the way on the causeway, you can also walk along the sand (you’ll want wellies or good waterproof boots) where you have the chance to see rock pools left behind by the tide.

Once you’re on the island, you can walk up the small hills, explore the old Second World War fortifications and sit somewhere to enjoy the views.

The island is small, about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) long so it doesn’t take much more than an hour to explore completely.

The highest point of Cramond Island offers views of the islands of Inchmickery and Inchcolm, and the Fife coast to the north. To the west, you’ll spot the three Forth bridges and from the southern part of the island, looking back towards Edinburgh, you can see Granton and Leith.

On a clear day, you can even see Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat!

Stats for the Cramond Island walk

• Difficulty: easy
• Distance: 1-3 km depending on how much walking on the island you do.
• Duration: 1- 2 hours

OS Maps are awesome for hiking in the UK. I’ve never found anything quite like them when in other countries. They have all features like churches, rivers, peaks, viewpoints and more. You can get paper maps (which are great for finding new places), and their app is super useful too.

What to know before walking to Cramond Island Edinburgh

Despite its small size, there are still some pretty cool things to see on Cramond Island. However, there are a few things to keep in mind as you explore this island.

• The old World War II bunkers aren’t really suitable for small children or dogs as there is often broken glass around and inside them.
• Many people have used the bunkers as toilets, which can make them smell terrible.
• Be sure to have checked the tide times before your visit to make sure you don’t get stranded on the island. There’s an information board with the latest tide information at the start of the causeway in Cramond. You can also just keep an eye on the tide yourself once you’re on the island and make sure you give yourselves more time than you think you’ll need to make the return journey.
• Always practice leave no trace ethics when enjoying the outdoors. This means not leaving any rubbish behind and, ideally, leaving a place better than you found it. Stick to paths so as not to erode any other plants and don’t graffiti on buildings, trees or rocks.
• There’s a public toilet near the causeway entrance and a car park around the corner.

Cramond Island tide times & Cramond Island crossing times

When planning your visit to Cramond Island, it’s important to keep in mind that the island is a tidal island, meaning that it can only be accessed on foot when the tide is low. At high tide, the footpath leading to the island is flooded with water, and it’s not possible to cross (unless you’ve got a boat!).

Check the Cramond Island tide times before heading out. You can find the Cramond Island tide times here and they can be used to guide your Cramond Island crossing times.

Or, just before you start walking on the causeway, you’ll find a sign with the current tide times.

The causeway to Cramond Island is accessible for 2 hours on either side of low tide so make sure you leave yourselves plenty of time for your journey there and back.

What to pack for walking to Cramond Island

Though this is more of a gentle walk, it’s still a good idea to have sensible clothing and walking shoes on, rather than trainers you don’t want to get mucky. The hiking packing lists below will help you get started.

What to pack for this hike depends on what season you’re hiking in.

• Check out my day hike packing list here.
• If you’re hiking in summer you should pack sunscreen, sunglasses, layers, water and bug spray as well as everything in the 10 essentials for hiking list.
• Here is what to wear hiking in hot weather
• Check out this post on the best leggings for hiking or what to wear hiking in summer for more details and my gear recommendations.
• If you’re hiking in winter after the snow has started falling you’ll need microspikes at the very least. If there is a lot of snow you will probably need snowshoes.
• You should also take plenty of layers including a fleece layer, a puffy insulated jacket and a wind and waterproof outer layer. Hats and gloves are also necessary as well as a good backpack to keep everything in.
• You should also pack water and some snacks too to keep you going as they’re part of the 10 essentials for hiking!
• Planning a hiking date? Check out what to wear on a hiking date but still look cool.

Final thoughts on Cramond Island

Cramond Island near Edinburgh is a great place to visit if you’re looking for something outside of the city centre with great views.

It makes a great day trip from Edinburgh if you combine it with other nearby attractions such as Lauriston Castle or South Queensferry.

To get to Cramond Island, you walk along a paved causeway with views of the Firth of Forth and, once on the island, you can enjoy the views or explore what’s left of the island’s colourful history.

Before going, make sure you’ve checked the tide times and allow yourself plenty of time for your return journey!

FAQs about visiting Cramond Island

Hannah

Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.

Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.

Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.