The Firth of Forth, commonly known as the Forth Estuary, stretches from Stirling to the Isle of May and is approximately 96km long. From Alloa the river widens out considerably and is bridged at two places by no fewer than five bridges. At Kincardine it is bridged by the Kincardine and Clackmannanshire Bridges, whilst at North Queensferry it is crossed by the Forth Rail Bridge, Forth Road Bridge and the new Queensferry Crossing.
The estuary is particularly interesting for its great variety of historical landmarks, islands, and wildlife, particularly as it has the only offshore islands of the East Coast. These include: Inchcolm Island which is famous for its 12th Century Abbey; and the Isle of May which is an important nature reserve for seabirds, particularly the puffin.
The Firth of Forth has always been a vital part of life for the inhabitants on both sides of its banks, with industries such as salt and fishing thriving for generations. See our “History” section to read more about the background of this essential river.