Mugdrum Island

Mugdrum Island lies in the Firth of Tay on the east coast of Scotland, opposite the town of Newburgh in Fife. It is low-lying and reedy, and covers an area of 55.7 acres (22.5 ha).^[1] It is the only significant island in the firth.^[2] The Tay splits into two channels here, known as the North Deep and the South Deep.

History

The island was once a possession of Lindores Abbey, and is referred to under the name Redinche (meaning either "red island" or "reed island") in the abbey's foundation charter.^[3] In the 17th century, it became attached to the Mugdrum estate near Newburgh.^[4] The island was formerly run as a farm, growing cereals, potatoes, and turnips (as well as reeds, which were harvested for thatch). The last tenant left in 1926.^[5] It is now a nature reserve under the stewardship of the Tay Valley Wildfowlers' Association.^[6]

References

^ Ordnance Survey (1866). "Perthshire, Sheet CXI". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
^ "Firth of Tay". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
^ Taylor, Simon; Markus, Gilbert (2010). The Place-Names of Fife. Vol. 4. Donington: Shaun Tyas. p. 63. ISBN 978-1-907730-06-1.
^ Laing, Alexander (1876). Lindores Abbey and its Burgh of Newburgh. Edinburgh: Edmonston & Douglas. p. 212 f.
^ "The Jacksons of Mugdrum Island". The Courier. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
^ "Wildfowlers take over river island to create bird haven". The Herald. 5 October 1994. Retrieved 28 January 2024.