Hills of Britain and Ireland
OS Map of Ailsa Craig
Height: 339m / 1112ft • Prominence: 339m / 1112ft • Summit : outcrop 15m NW of trig point • Trip reports (hill-bagging)
Ailsa Craig.
Ailsa Craig from Girvan. 12/9/2024. I've seen Ailsa Craig several times before and it never fails to impress. This time, armed with my Panasonic bridge camera with its 20-1200mm zoom lens set at its maximum, I could get a mega close-up of this spectacular rock.
12-Sep-24 • Neil Harvey 156 • flickr
ailsacraig firthofclyde southwestscotland sea rock island 54002893937
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)
The northern gannet (Morus bassanus) is a seabird, the largest species of the gannet family, Sulidae. It is native to the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, breeding in Western Europe and Northeastern North America. The sexes are similar in appearance. The adult northern gannet has a mainly white streamlined body with a long neck, long and slender wings. It is 87–100 cm (34–39 in) long with a 170–180 cm (67–71 in) wingspan. The head and nape have a buff tinge that is more prominent in breeding season, and the wings are edged with dark brown-black feathers. The long pointed bill is blue-grey, contrasting with black bare skin around the mouth and eyes. Juveniles are mostly grey-brown, becoming increasingly white in the five years it takes them to reach maturity. Nesting takes place in colonies on both sides of the North Atlantic, the largest of which are at Bass Rock (75,000 pairs as of 2014), St. Kilda (60,000 pairs as of 2013) and Ailsa Craig (33,000 pairs as of 2014) in Scotland, Grassholm in Wales, and Bonaventure Island (60,000 pairs in 2009) off the coast of Quebec. Its breeding range has extended northward and eastward, colonies being established on Russia's Kola Peninsula in 1995 and Bear Island, southernmost island of Svalbard, in 2011. Colonies are mostly located on offshore islands with cliffs, from which the birds can more easily launch into the air. The northern gannet undertakes seasonal migrations and hunts for the fish that form the bulk of its diet by high-speed dives into the sea. The northern gannet was previously hunted for food in parts of its range, and the traditional practice still continues in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland and the Faroe Islands. It faces few natural or man-made threats, and since its population is growing, it is considered to be a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As a conspicuous and common bird, it has been mentioned in several ancient myths and legends. This image was taken off the Island of Ailsa Craig, in the Firth of Clyde, on the west coast of Scotland
11-Jul-21 • haroldmoses • flickr
x4a01591 gannets northerngannets flickrbirds mullofkintyre scotland 51332731146
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)
The northern gannet (Morus bassanus) is a seabird, the largest species of the gannet family, Sulidae. It is native to the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, breeding in Western Europe and Northeastern North America. The sexes are similar in appearance. The adult northern gannet has a mainly white streamlined body with a long neck, long and slender wings. It is 87–100 cm (34–39 in) long with a 170–180 cm (67–71 in) wingspan. The head and nape have a buff tinge that is more prominent in breeding season, and the wings are edged with dark brown-black feathers. The long pointed bill is blue-grey, contrasting with black bare skin around the mouth and eyes. Juveniles are mostly grey-brown, becoming increasingly white in the five years it takes them to reach maturity. Nesting takes place in colonies on both sides of the North Atlantic, the largest of which are at Bass Rock (75,000 pairs as of 2014), St. Kilda (60,000 pairs as of 2013) and Ailsa Craig (33,000 pairs as of 2014) in Scotland, Grassholm in Wales, and Bonaventure Island (60,000 pairs in 2009) off the coast of Quebec. Its breeding range has extended northward and eastward, colonies being established on Russia's Kola Peninsula in 1995 and Bear Island, southernmost island of Svalbard, in 2011. Colonies are mostly located on offshore islands with cliffs, from which the birds can more easily launch into the air. The northern gannet undertakes seasonal migrations and hunts for the fish that form the bulk of its diet by high-speed dives into the sea. The northern gannet was previously hunted for food in parts of its range, and the traditional practice still continues in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland and the Faroe Islands. It faces few natural or man-made threats, and since its population is growing, it is considered to be a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As a conspicuous and common bird, it has been mentioned in several ancient myths and legends. This image was taken near the huge Gannet Colony at Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde, off the west coast of Scotland.
11-Jul-21 • haroldmoses • flickr
x4a01741 gannets northerngannets ailsacraig firthofclyde flickrbirds 51327249560
OS Map
This is OS mapping. In some areas, OpenStreetMap shows more footpaths
Spatial NI has online OSNI mapping. Click "Basemap Gallery" (4 squares icon at the top).
Now would be a good time for a cup of tea.
GPX Editor
Record map clicks
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Photos
Please tag your photos and upload them to the British and Irish Mountains group on Flickr
The other photos have been geo-tagged as on or around the summit. For less busy mountains, it can be a little hit and miss.
Ailsa Craig.
Ailsa Craig from Girvan. 12/9/2024. I've seen Ailsa Craig several times before and it never fails to impress. This time, armed with my Panasonic bridge camera with its 20-1200mm zoom lens set at its maximum, I could get a mega close-up of this spectacular rock.
12-Sep-24 • Neil Harvey 156 • flickr
ailsacraig firthofclyde southwestscotland sea rock island 54002893937
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)
The northern gannet (Morus bassanus) is a seabird, the largest species of the gannet family, Sulidae. It is native to the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, breeding in Western Europe and Northeastern North America. The sexes are similar in appearance. The adult northern gannet has a mainly white streamlined body with a long neck, long and slender wings. It is 87–100 cm (34–39 in) long with a 170–180 cm (67–71 in) wingspan. The head and nape have a buff tinge that is more prominent in breeding season, and the wings are edged with dark brown-black feathers. The long pointed bill is blue-grey, contrasting with black bare skin around the mouth and eyes. Juveniles are mostly grey-brown, becoming increasingly white in the five years it takes them to reach maturity. Nesting takes place in colonies on both sides of the North Atlantic, the largest of which are at Bass Rock (75,000 pairs as of 2014), St. Kilda (60,000 pairs as of 2013) and Ailsa Craig (33,000 pairs as of 2014) in Scotland, Grassholm in Wales, and Bonaventure Island (60,000 pairs in 2009) off the coast of Quebec. Its breeding range has extended northward and eastward, colonies being established on Russia's Kola Peninsula in 1995 and Bear Island, southernmost island of Svalbard, in 2011. Colonies are mostly located on offshore islands with cliffs, from which the birds can more easily launch into the air. The northern gannet undertakes seasonal migrations and hunts for the fish that form the bulk of its diet by high-speed dives into the sea. The northern gannet was previously hunted for food in parts of its range, and the traditional practice still continues in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland and the Faroe Islands. It faces few natural or man-made threats, and since its population is growing, it is considered to be a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As a conspicuous and common bird, it has been mentioned in several ancient myths and legends. This image was taken off the Island of Ailsa Craig, in the Firth of Clyde, on the west coast of Scotland
11-Jul-21 • haroldmoses • flickr
x4a01591 gannets northerngannets flickrbirds mullofkintyre scotland 51332731146
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)
The northern gannet (Morus bassanus) is a seabird, the largest species of the gannet family, Sulidae. It is native to the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, breeding in Western Europe and Northeastern North America. The sexes are similar in appearance. The adult northern gannet has a mainly white streamlined body with a long neck, long and slender wings. It is 87–100 cm (34–39 in) long with a 170–180 cm (67–71 in) wingspan. The head and nape have a buff tinge that is more prominent in breeding season, and the wings are edged with dark brown-black feathers. The long pointed bill is blue-grey, contrasting with black bare skin around the mouth and eyes. Juveniles are mostly grey-brown, becoming increasingly white in the five years it takes them to reach maturity. Nesting takes place in colonies on both sides of the North Atlantic, the largest of which are at Bass Rock (75,000 pairs as of 2014), St. Kilda (60,000 pairs as of 2013) and Ailsa Craig (33,000 pairs as of 2014) in Scotland, Grassholm in Wales, and Bonaventure Island (60,000 pairs in 2009) off the coast of Quebec. Its breeding range has extended northward and eastward, colonies being established on Russia's Kola Peninsula in 1995 and Bear Island, southernmost island of Svalbard, in 2011. Colonies are mostly located on offshore islands with cliffs, from which the birds can more easily launch into the air. The northern gannet undertakes seasonal migrations and hunts for the fish that form the bulk of its diet by high-speed dives into the sea. The northern gannet was previously hunted for food in parts of its range, and the traditional practice still continues in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland and the Faroe Islands. It faces few natural or man-made threats, and since its population is growing, it is considered to be a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As a conspicuous and common bird, it has been mentioned in several ancient myths and legends. This image was taken near the huge Gannet Colony at Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde, off the west coast of Scotland.
11-Jul-21 • haroldmoses • flickr
x4a01741 gannets northerngannets ailsacraig firthofclyde flickrbirds 51327249560
Abandoned on the Craig
10-Jul-14 • Hugh Spicer / UIsdean Spicer • flickr
ailsacraig firthofclyde 52399790608
1731 Ailsa Craig
Brilliant sunny day on island with Paul Webster, Stephen Boff, Michael Earnshaw, richtea5040, Ian Brown, Lee Marsden, Simon Barnard, Ruud Vanruitenbeek + a few others. Name:Ailsa Craig Date of ascent:10/04/2011 Hill number:1731 Height:340m / 1115ft RHB Section:27B: Carrick and Galloway County/UA:South Ayrshire (UA) Island:Mono Tump island Maritime area:Firth of Clyde to Mull of Kintyre Class:Marilyn, Hump, Tump (300-399m), SIB Grid ref:NX 01907 99833 Summit feature:outcrop 15m NW of trig point Drop:340m Col:Sea Observations:outcrop is 10cm higher than trig point flush bracket; trig point is at NX 01917 99825 Survey:Abney level
10-Apr-11 • Dugswell2 • flickr
ailsacraig marilyn sib p340 hump tump ailsacraigtrigpoint 40902196471
Videos
Ailsa Craig, granite islet, South Ayrshire council area, Scotland, at the mouth of the Firth of Clyde and 10 miles (16 km) off the ...
A HIKE TO THE TOP OF AILSA CRAIG (PADDYS MILESTONE)
Ailsa Craig, granite islet, South Ayrshire council area, Scotland, at the mouth of the Firth of Clyde and 10 miles (16 km) off the ...
Hello Jamie here and with another video. A tiny island in Scotland, called Ailsa Craig, its like a big spot, but with a flat opening, ...
Notes
- Data: Database of British and Irish Hills v18.2
- Maps: We use OS mapping for England, Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man. Sadly, Channel Islands, Northern (OSNI) and Southern Ireland (OSI) mapping isn't available online, so we use Openstreetmap.