It divides the River Tay into two channels as it flows through Perth, and is crossed by the single-track Tay Viaduct, carrying the Scottish Central Railway.

One half of the island is within Perth; the other is within Kinnoull parish.

[6] The King James VI Golf Course is situated on and covers much of the island with the remaining land used for allotments.

At the 2011 census, it is the only permanently inhabited freshwater island in Scotland which is not on Loch Lomond.

There are wild garlic, common bluebells, sweet cicely, broom and dog violets.