Preston Island

Preston Island is an artificial island in Torry Bay created from natural rocks and still shows remains of industrial buildings. The island bears traces of housing, engine houses, and salt pans from its time as a working site.

Around 1800 Sir Robert Preston built this site over natural rocks to mine coal and produce salt. The island was systematically developed and remained a center for both industrial activities for decades.

The remains of workers' housing and industrial buildings tell the story of daily life for Scottish laborers in the 1800s. These visible traces show how people lived and worked in harsh conditions during that era.

The island is reachable through a marked footpath from Low Valleyfield and has information panels on site. Visitors should come at low tide to see the structures better and walk safely across the rocks.

The island is one of the rare places in Scotland where both industries operated together and above-ground traces survive. This makes it a special record of a rarely documented combination of coal and salt production.

Location: Fife

Location: Culross

GPS coordinates: 56.04944,-3.59581

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:21