Hestan Island facts for kids
| Location | Hestan Island Solway Firth Scotland United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 54°49′59″N 3°48′29″W / 54.832931°N 3.808020°W |
| Year first constructed | 1850 (first) 1893 (second) |
| Year first lit | 1996 (current) |
| Construction | skeletal tower |
| Tower shape | unusual quadrangular tower covered by slatted daymark panels |
| Markings / pattern | white tower |
| Height | 23 metres (75 ft) |
| Focal height | 42 metres (138 ft) |
| Characteristic | Fl (2) W 10s. |
| Admiralty number | A4640 |
| NGA number | 4832 |
| ARLHS number | SCO-095 |
Hestan Island is a small island located in the Solway Firth in Scotland. It sits at the mouth of the River Urr estuary. This island is part of the Dumfries and Galloway region.
Hestan Island is quite small. It is about 460 meters long and 270 meters wide. The highest point on the island is just over 50 meters above sea level.
Contents
Hestan Island Lighthouse
A lighthouse stands on the eastern side of Hestan Island. It was built in 1850 by a famous engineer named Alan Stevenson. Lighthouses help guide ships safely.
Walking to Hestan Island
Hestan Island is a special place because you can sometimes walk to it from the mainland. This is possible when the tide is very low. A natural path of shingle and mussels appears. This path connects Almorness Point to the northern tip of Hestan.
You can also walk to the island from Rockcliffe during certain very low tides. This walk is about two miles long. You might need to wade through shallow water over the mudflats. Even if the tide starts to come in, you can usually walk faster than the water.
Hestan Island is one of 43 "tidal islands" in Great Britain. A tidal island is an island that you can walk to from the mainland at low tide. It is one of 17 such islands in Scotland.
Island Legends and History
At the southern end of the island, there are some rocky points called "Daft Ann's Steps." A local legend says that a girl once tried to place stepping stones here. She wanted to reach Balcary Point on the other side but sadly drowned.
There are also old ruins of a manor house on the island. This house was built for a historical figure named Edward Balliol.
In the 1700s, Hestan Island was known for smuggling. People would hide illegal goods in the caves on the island's southwest side. These caves were said to have shelves cut into the rock for storage. A writer named Samuel Rutherford Crockett wrote about this in his novel The Raiders. Balcary House, which is now a hotel across the water, was also used by smugglers. They used its cellars to hide their secret items.
Fun Activities
Today, Hestan Island is a popular spot for sea kayakers. They enjoy paddling around the island and exploring its coast.
Images for kids
-
Buildings on Hestan Island
-
Hestan island in the Solway
-
Orchardton Castle with Hestan and windfarm.
-
-
-
