The Isle of May is owned and managed by NatureScot (SNH) for more information
please visit their website at - www.snh.org.uk
It is an outstandingly attractive island which lies at the entrance to the Firth of Forth, surrounded
by prolific fishing grounds, which supports the varied sea life
that live here. The island is 1.5 km long, 0.5 km wide with
marked paths leading all over the island affording excellent views
of the wildlife and their habitat.
The first human settlers
arrived in Fife about 8,000 years ago and made good use of the May
Island for fishing and seal hunting, the earliest find of human
activity that has so far been found on the Isle is a piece of
pottery dated 2,000 B C, ancient flint arrow heads have also been
found. It seems that long before Christianity the island had some
religious significance, this serene austere island certainly lends
it self to peaceful thoughts, place names around the island are
reminders of its religious history, such as Kirkhaven, Alterstanes,
the Angel, the Pilgrim etc
It is thought that the island
name comes from the Norsemen who called the island Maa Oy, which is
norse for gull island.