Scottish Islands Explorer - November-December 2016

Can Collapse

ings calm down once you reach the visitors’ centre, only

a short stroll away from the jetty. ere are a number of paths

to places of interest. A map supplied by the ferry company

helps. Visitors are urged to stick to the paths, for their own

safety. Many birds are ground-nesting and puffin burrows can

collapse if someone unwittingly stands on them.

Wherever you go on the island, birds are never far away.

Puffins fly over with sand eels in their beaks and gulls can be

seen near the rock edges, protecting their very well-

camouflaged chicks. ere is a resident population of rabbits

on the island and sometimes visitors can spot a gull indulging

in the treat of a dead rabbit.

Although May is renowned for its birdlife, grey seals come

to its shores in the autumn, to the second largest east coast

breeding colony in Scotland. ey are the third rarest species

of seal in the world. In addition, archaeological remains tell

us something about the past with pottery, flint arrowheads

and a piece of stone believed to date back to the Bronze Age

of around 2,000 BC.

Eventually Moved

e remains of a priory first built here in the 12th Century

are evident and medieval records indicate that a religious

community was first established in the 7th Century. Vikings

probably raided the island in the 9th Century and in the 12th

Century King David I funded a monastery with 13 abbots

in residence. ey eventually moved away to Pittenweem on

the mainland.

Gradually the priory fell into disuse, retaining a popular

appeal for pilgrims during the early medieval times. To this

day people can visit Pilgrim’s Haven on the south side of the

island. Nearby is the Pilgrim’s Well with waters reputed to

cure people miraculously. e ruined manor house, built on

the remains of the original priory and church, is still visible.

In the 17th and 18th Centuries people lived in a small

village just south of the priory. e residents allegedly lived

off smuggling, using caves to hide their spoils. ey discour-

aged excisemen to check out the caves by spreading rumours

they were home to kelpies, Scottish water-spirits in the shape

of horses. At this time the church was used as a defended

manor house.

Charging Ships

Here is home to Scotland’s very first lighthouse. e initial

design was simply a raised platform, 40’ high, with a beacon

on it. Alexander Cunningham had it built in 1635 with

permission to start charging ships for providing the light. As

a result he was able to improve the radiance, raising the tower

by another 20’.

Isle of May - Beloved of Vikings, Smugglers and Seabirds

30 SCOTTISH ISLANDS EXPLORERNOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016