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Inchkeith

Firth of Forth

A fortress island where a king tested the language of babies.

Inchkeith has been fortified many times, by the English, French and Scots, and was armed with big guns in both world wars to guard the Forth and Rosyth naval base. A famous story says that in 1493 King James IV sent two babies to live on the island with a mute nurse, to see what language they would speak naturally.

Read the full story, see it on the map, get directions and find what else is nearby in the free Hidden Britain Atlas map.

Open Inchkeith on the mapReport a sighting here
When
1500s to 1950s
Where
56.0330, -3.1350
Group
Secret bunkers & war sites

Visiting

Seen from Edinburgh and Kinghorn. Landing is restricted.

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