Horse Isle facts for kids

An aerial view of Horse Isle

Horse Isle, known in Gaelic as Eilean nan Each, is a small island in Scotland. It is located in the Firth of Clyde, very close to the town of Ardrossan. No one lives on Horse Isle. Today, it is a special nature reserve managed by the RSPB.

Geography of Horse Isle

This small, rocky island is about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) west of Ardrossan in North Ayrshire. Even though it is only about 4 meters (13 feet) high, Horse Isle helps protect Ardrossan harbour from strong waves. The ferry that travels to the Isle of Arran passes close to the island.

Two smaller islands, called North Islet and East Islet, are located near the east coast of Horse Isle. There are also several other rocks in the water between the island and the mainland. Old maps from the late 1700s show some of these rocks had names like 'Robinson's Rock' and 'Witherow's Rock'.

History of Horse Isle

Horse Isle from Ardrossan North Beach

The beacon on Horse Isle

A tall stone tower, called a beacon, stands at the south end of Horse Isle. This beacon is about 16 meters (52 feet) high. It was built in 1811 to help guide ships safely past the island. Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton, ordered it to be built. He got the idea from John Ross. Even today, maps simply mark it as a "landmark."

For many years, Horse Isle was a dangerous place for ships. More than 17 ships have been wrecked on or near the island. For example:

• The Minerva, a ship traveling from Dublin to Glasgow, was wrecked in 1821. Five people on board lost their lives.
• The Morning Star from Dublin was blown onto Horse Isle during a storm in 1871. Luckily, its crew was rescued.
• The Brigadier, a tugboat, became stuck on the south side of the island in 1960.

Wildlife on Horse Isle

Today, Horse Isle is a very important nature reserve. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) takes care of it. The island is known as an Area of Special Protection (AoSP). This means it is a protected area for birds that come to breed and raise their young. It is also important for birds that spend the winter there. AoSPs are created under a law called the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Their main goal is to stop people from disturbing or harming birds and their homes.

Horse Isle is especially important for several types of birds. These include herring gulls, lesser black-backed gulls, and eider ducks.

See also

In Spanish: Horse Isle para niños