6 Forbidden Islands On Earth No One Is Allowed To Visit (3 of 4)
4. Gruinard Island, Scotland, UK
For nearly 50 years, this small Scottish island was literally a biological weapon test site. The British government turned Gruinard into a toxic anthrax lab during WWII, allegedly to develop defenses. But who were they kidding? The experiment wasn’t about safety. This was a straight-up chemical arms trial.
They brought in sheep, blasted the island with anthrax bombs, and waited. Within days, animals were bleeding out and dying. But the spores didn’t just kill the cattle, and they permeated into the soil. It was so bad that the researchers had to douse the whole island in 280 tons of formaldehyde and even dig up parts of the land like it’s nuclear waste.
Here’s where it gets intriguing. The UK government only admitted this in the 1990s. Before that, the UK government simply labeled Gruinard as “off-limits” without providing any public explanation. There were rumors of mutated animals, secret underground bunkers, and even whispers of contaminated people who’d been “taken away.”
Even after the “clean-up,” no one lives there. It’s supposedly safe now, but the UK government still owns it. So if it’s all fine, why hasn’t it become a tourist destination? Maybe it’s not about anthrax anymore, or maybe it never was. Some say it was a cover for darker Cold War experiments. Either way, you’re not likely to see vacation brochures for Gruinard anytime soon.
5. Heart Reef Island, Australia
Heart Reef is a little natural wonder nestled in the sparkling blue waters of the Coral Sea, close off Australia’s Whitsunday coast. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a coral formation that resembles a heart. Perfect, delicate, and almost unbelievably gorgeous. Discovered by a local pilot back in 1975, it quickly became a symbol of romance, wonder, and the incredible artistry of the natural world.
But heres the thing: you cant visit it!
You cant swim there. You cant snorkel or dive around it. And no, you cant step foot on it either. And honestly? Thats a good thing.
Heart Reef is tinyonly about 17 meters acrossand extremely fragile. Like, centuries-old coral-fragile. Even the smallest human disturbance could damage it beyond repair. Thats why the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has strict rules to protect it. No boats. No touching. No exceptions.
The only way to see Heart Reef is from the sky. Scenic helicopter or seaplane flights from Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island offer jaw-dropping aerial viewsseriously, its like looking down at a secret love note written by the ocean. From there, you can enjoy a luxury experience that keeps a respectful distanceall without putting the reef at risk.
