The Isle of May has been a National Nature Reserve since 1957 and it is now owned and run by Scottish Natural Heritage. Most visitors to the island come to look at the plentiful wildlife, which includes seals, puffins, guillemots, eider ducks, Arctic terns, fulmars, razorbills and shags. Trips to the island depart from Anstruther Harbour on the Fife coast.
The first visitors to the island arrived 5,000 years ago. There was a small community of monks dedicated to St Ethernan on the island but they were all killed by raiding Vikings in 875. By 1000 a church for pilgrims had been established. In 1145 King David I re-founded the monastery, which had 12 monks and 4 buildings. In the late 13th Century the monks moved to the mainland but pilgrims continued to visit May and one hermit remained to greet them. King James IV visited several times. The island was farmed up until 1730.
In 1636 Alexander Cunningham owned the island and he built the first lighthouse. It was a tower with a metal basket on the roof and a coal fire was lit every night. It was the first place in Scotland with a permanent light. Ashes from the fire were dumped around the base of the tower. In 1791 fumes from the smouldering embers leaked into the house and killed the lighthouse keeper, his wife and 4 of his 5 children.
The main light was constructed in 1816 by Robert Stevenson. It was lit by an oil lamp. In 1843 the Low Light was built on the east coast. Both were converted in 1883 to run on electricity. The keepers and their families lived in the buildings on Fluke Street. Only the main light is now in use and this was automated in 1989.
In 1715 James Stuart, father of Bonnie Prince Charlie, tried to claim the Scottish throne and 300 of his followers were stranded on the island for a week by bad weather.
The island was not fortified during the First World War, although there were plans to do so. During World War Two there was a look out post on the island.
There is a toilet and information centre for visitors but no refreshments are available.
Main Lighthouse
Main Lighthouse
Main Light - still in use
Low Light
The Beacon - the first lighthouse
Anstruther with the Isle of May in the distance
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