Dotted around the Firth of Forth, their rough terrain protruding from the waters, is a network of islands.
Anyone strolling along the coast will have noticed one or two jutting from the horizon but may be unaware of their fascinating and vital history.
One tiny island, Inchmickery, is about one hundred metres long and lies just three miles north of the city in the Forth of Fifth.
However, it helped to protect Scotland’s capital city during the world wars when it served as a fortification.
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The island was used as a gun emplacement and from a distance it is still said today to resemble a battleship.
Inchmickery had soldiers stationed during both the world wars and is now abandoned and uninhibited, but it was used briefly as a film set in the 1990s.
There are eleven other such islands scattered around the Firth of Forth in and around the Lothians and Fife, but most lie just outside Edinburgh.
However, perhaps because of their geographical significance, lying to the the top of Scotland most historic and important city, they have had many visitors over the years.
People of Celtic, Norse and English origin appear to have settled there and there are ancient ruins that remember them.
The islands also regularly came under attack from Vikings during the early Historic period and by the Middle Ages the likes of Inchkeith and Inchgarvie were even used as an isolated refuge for victims of syphilis.
During the 16th century it is believed that Inchkeith, Inchcolm and Inchgarvie all suffered English occupation.
It is thought that one of the islands, Inchcolm, was fortified during the Napoleonic wars and then Inchkeith and Kinghorn were fortified in 1880 ahead of World War One.
In the First World War and the Second World War Inchmickery, Inchcolm and Cramond Island formed part of a defensive line of guns covering anti-submarine booms across the river.
Inchcolm was perhaps the most important in proving a bulwark against the German forces in the World Wars.
After being given various weaponry, including MK1 quick-firing guns the island played an important defensive role in World War One.
Again for World War Two the artillery was beefed up, and several Lewis Guns were installed on the island for anti-aircraft defences.
Inchcolm became the HQ for the other Firth of Forth defences throughout both wars.
At its peak during the second war the garrison on the island was over 1000 men strong, armed with Bren and Bofors guns, and all living in Nissen Huts.
The twelve islands became known as the ‘Middle defences’, during the war and were considered crucial outposts should enemy forces ever have gotten close enough to the city.
Today the 12 islands all lie mostly uninhibited but Inchmickery is an RSPB reserve, and is home to breeding pairs of common eider, sandwich terns and various gulls.
