bass rock rib trips

Wildlife Boat Trips

We offer a fantastic range of boat trips around the islands in the Firth of Forth, including the incredible Bass Rock gannet colony (featured in BBC1's Wild Isles). Trips run from late March to early October. Look out for different seabirds and marine wildlife throughout the spring and summer season. Boat trips for can be booked online through the links below or call us on 01620 890 202.

Three Islands Seabird Seafari

These exhilarating wildlife boat trips leave North Berwick Harbour and head out around the islands of the Lamb, Craigleith and of course the famous Bass Rock. Enjoy seeing a range of amazing wildlife in its natural habitat. Seasonal highlights include puffins, guillemots, gannets and if you’re really lucky you might even spot dolphins. Please note our RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) are unsuitable for anyone with back and or neck problems or who is pregnant. Please bring your own waterproofs. All children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult on these trips.

Isle of May Landing trips

Visit stunning National Nature Reserve the Isle of May. The island is steeped in history and is a haven for wildlife, supporting internationally important colonies of breeding seabirds in the summer and grey seals over winter. Enjoy a cruise around the iconic Bass Rock on your return journey (weather and sea conditions permitting).

Our RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) are unsuitable for anyone with back and or neck problems or who is pregnant. Please note all children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult on these trips. Please bring your own waterproofs.

Seabird Catamaran Cruise

On board our custom-built, 55 seat catamaran, enjoy an hour-long cruise around the island of Craigleith and the Bass Rock, the world's largest colony of Northern gannets. Please note all children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult on these trips.

Isle of May Round Island Trip

Departing from North Berwick Harbour, this exhilarating wildlife boat trip will take you around the Isle of May, Craigleith and out to the iconic Bass Rock. Please make sure you wear, warm water proof clothes, even on sunny days, it can be cold out on the water. Please note our RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) are unsuitable for anyone with back and or neck problems or who is pregnant. Please bring your own waterproofs. All children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult on these trips. Not suitable for children under 7.

The terms and conditions for all our boat trips are available to view HERE.

If you have any queries about any of the trips please don't hesitate to get in touch with us on [email protected]

Bass Rock Boat Trip

For years, I have seen pictures of the Bass Rock on those 'top must-visit places in Scotland' lists, you know the ones, yet nothing could have prepared me for the surprise I got when I finally experienced it in person.

I was awestruck.  It is so much closer to land than I had expected, and yes, I knew that it was close to land but still, it was much closer than expected.  I saw it in all of its glory long before we reached the shore of North Berwick, a sight that I had not anticipated so early on and it was wonderful.

Safe to say, we struck lucky by visiting East Lothian on one of the hottest days of the year so far and with that, I was really thankful for my planning on this occasion, as we had pre-booked one of the visit Bass Rock sightseeing tours with  Sula Boat Trips  where the cool breeze and sea spray were very much welcomed!

But I'll be honest, I had a lot of anxiety ahead of this boat trip as I recently injured my foot and was afraid that any (small as they may be) jumps could damage it further.  However, there was no need to worry as there was a small gangway with barriers on either side that made access very easy and comfortable.

We booked the first sailing of the day, 10 am, for our trip.  You do have to arrive at North Berwick harbour around 20 minutes before departure but it was nice to be up and see the town a little earlier in the day as it was much quieter.  We also had the chance to admire the gorgeous houses and views before our trip.

Once aboard, we took our seats overlooking the water and settled in.  I know that many of us tend to scramble for the best seats and the best views when on these trips, especially if you enjoy photography and want those dramatic shots with no obstruction, but the boat does turn and stop frequently to allow everyone that opportunity, so do not worry about your seating!

The tour is 1.5 hours long, leaving you with plenty of time to explore North Berwick afterwards if you are on a brief visit as we were, and I think the trip was a great length for the younger children on board while still feeling that you had enough time to experience and enjoy the Bass Rock.

As we had gorgeous weather, we passed lots of families and children enjoying the sun while we made our way out of the harbour, watching as they took part in activities like sailing, canoeing and jumping into the water.

We enjoyed a lovely, smooth journey towards  Craigleith Island  and once we arrived, we had the pleasure of seeing puffins, guillemots and kittiwakes among many other birds.

Our guide for the trip, Caroline, was fantastic.  She was engaging, personable, enthusiastic, and extremely knowledgeable.  I feel that we learnt so much about the birds along with the history of the Bass Rock and the surrounding area thanks to her passion, which was clear to see.

Once we learnt a little about the birds on Craigleith, we made our way to the main event.

Standing at approximately 350 feet at its highest point, the Bass Rock is an imposing volcanic plug that is now home to the world's largest colony of Northern gannets.

The island is so imposing and incredible to see close up, and it only gets more impressive as you make your way around.  Now obviously, the gannets are the big attraction.  Around 150,000 gannets are nesting on the island, we even had the opportunity to see some guga (gannet chicks) and despite the scores of birds flying above your head, it's a very serene experience.

And yes, it comes with its faults, I did get pooped on… twice!

But it's a small price to pay and without going into too much detail, it's easily cleaned and doesn't stain.  Although, you might want to consider taking a hat if you can!

Making your way around the island and navigating your eyes through the mass of Scottish seabirds, we ventured closer to the rocks and towards the sea caves. The smell was pungent.  Manageable, no retching, but as you can imagine with so many birds, it's not entirely pleasant!

We did not go into any of the sea caves but that allows a clearer view of the birds nesting, the fluffy baby guga and the opportunity to see some of the rituals and behaviours of the birds, which were really interesting.  Many traits are just like us in a lot of ways.

As you continue around the island, you will spot the now out of use foghorn.  It is visible on one of the highest points, and though there's not a huge amount to see, we were told a couple of facts about its time in use.

Shortly thereafter, as you make your way to the other side of the island, you can see the Lighthouse.  I'm not sure if this is a personal thing, or if we all have an appreciation for lighthouses, but I love to see unique ones, especially when they have a story.

The Bass Rock Lighthouse is no longer operated by a keeper on site, I believe it is all operated by technology now.

And in terms of history, we learnt that Robert Louis Stevenson's cousin built the Lighthouse but another fact that really shocked me is that the Bass Rock was considered the Scottish Alcatraz.  I'm not implying anything as recently as Alcatraz, but many centuries ago, people were banished to the rock as punishment.

We were told a really interesting story about some prisoners that had been on the island, yet escaped the guards.  Of course, I won't spoil that for you in case you choose to go on the trip, but I'm definitely going to be reading more about that now that I'm home!

All while you are listening to the history of the island and trying to take in the surroundings, the experience of seeing the sheer number of gannets flying above your head and diving by the water is incredible. They are beautiful birds and it's not until you are close that you can really appreciate how big they are.  They have a wingspan of around 6ft!  Yet, they are so uninterested in the boat and the people that it does have tranquil elements.  You are very much in their world.

All in all, I would consider this to be an all-around age and family-friendly trip.  We even had a dog on our boat so do not consider that completely off-limits!

As we made our way back to the harbour, we passed the ruins of Tantallon Castle in the distance along with a section of the John Muir Way, which is a coast to coast walking and cycling route.

These were two things that I was quite excited to see as I will be returning to North Berwick shortly to hopefully see the castle a little closer, experience more of the town and attempt a portion of the John Muir Way by bike.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with Sula Boat Trips and I would highly recommend it but there are many other tour options to choose from such as the  Scottish Seabird Centre , both of these options are priced around £26 per adult and £10 for children (although prices can differ).  Alternatively, you can book  BlueWild  for exclusive boat hire.

Author: icreation

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A guide to Bass Rock near North Berwick

The Bass Rock is an impressive island/rock on the North Berwick coast in the Firth of Forth, east Scotland. The island is now a wildlife sanctuary but also has a long history of human habitation, with castles, chapels and prisons built on the volcanic rock... but a more modern lighthouse still exists today. This steep-sided volcanic rock is 351 ft (307 metres) above sea level and lies about 3 miles northeast of North Berwick.

Looking out to sea from North Berwick, the Bass Rock actually looks quite strange with its angular shape and steep sides. Its most striking feature is its bright white colour (a mixture of the white nesting gannets and their excrement smeared all over the rockface!) - it looks like an iceberg!

The geology of Bass Rock

Bass Rock is a volcanic plug comprised of phonolitic trachyte rock. James Hutton, a famous Scottish geologist, was the first to recognise it as an igneous intrusion in 1847. He wrote about it at length in his book "Edinburgh and its Neighbourhood, Geological and Historical: with The Geology of the Bass Rock".

The gannets of Bass Rock

Amazingly, 150000 gannets nest on Bass Rock in peak season over the spring to autumn months. They arrive at Bass Rock in late February and leave in late October, with most travelling to the west coast of Africa.

What are gannets?

The gannet is one of the largest seabirds in the British Isles, with a total wingspan of 2 m (6.5 ft). Their bodies are bright white giving way to yellow necks and heads; their beaks are a distinctive white with black highlights. Gannet wings are white but have black tips.

Gannets hunt by plunging headfirst into the water at speeds of 60 mph! It's quite amazing to watch; they fold their bodies into an arrow-like shape and pierce the water to catch fish. Absolutely amazing birds.

Interesting gannet facts:

Gannets have a lifespan of 17 years.

Gannets only lay one egg at a time.

Eggs take 42-46 days to incubate.

Fledgings take 84-97 days to mature.

Gannets are currently listed as amber in a green/amber/red conservation status.

In 2022 the gannet colony was significantly affected by  Avian Flu . With such high concentrations of birds on the rock, it spread like wildfire throughout the population. Hundreds of dead birds have washed up on the shores of East Lothian.

Sir David Attenborough

Famous TV wildlife specialist Sir David Attenborough has described the Gannet colony at Bass Rock as one of the 12 wildlife wonders of the world. Naturalist Chris Packham described the rock as "the most exciting birding spectacle in the UK".

Scottish Seabird Centre

The Scottish Seabird Centre is on a coastal peninsula west of Bass Rock. Dedicated to helping visitors learn about Scotland's marine wildlife, the centre offers a 5-star experience with many exhibits, workshops, and science shows.

The centre even has live camera feeds from the island if you don't feel like the epic boat trip.

History of Bass Rock

Here is a short chronological list of Bass Rock's history.

600 AD - The first inhabitants of Bass Rock were said to be Christian hermits.

756 - St Baldred, "The Apostle of the Lothians", dies on the island. The remains of his chapel still exist today.

Late 1000s - The island was said to have been a gift from King Malcolm III of Scotland to the Bass family, from which the island is now named. The gannets of Bass Rock were appropriately used in the family crest for the Bass family.

1318 - The Bass is owned by the Lauder family.

1567 - Sir Robert Lauder, a Mary Queen of Scot's supporter, is defeated at the Battle of Carberry Hill.

1650s - The island castle is used to resupply Oliver Cromwell's fleet.

1671 - Sir Alexander Ramsay sells Bass Rock to the crown. The island was used as an Alcatraz-style prison during Cromwell's invasion of Scotland. The existing castle was repurposed for holding prisoners; notable inhabitants were Walter Stewart (Earl of Atholl and King James I cousin), Covenanters, Jacobites and members of Clan Mackay.

1691 - Four Jacobite prisoners capture the island fortress while the garrison was busy unloading coal from a ship. They would hold the castle for three years, defending it against all attackers. They were eventually allowed to leave and become free men once more.

1701 - Most of the castle is dismantled.

1706 - Ownership of Bass Rock passes to Sir Hew Hamilton-Dalrymple breaking ownership of the rock from the Lauder family after six centuries! Sir Hew was also the owner of nearby Tantallon Castle.

1902 - Robert Stevenson builds a 20-metre-tall lighthouse near the landing site of the island. The castle remnants received some repair work.

1988 - The lighthouse is no longer manned.

Use in Literature

"Catriona" and "Kidnapped" by Robert Louis Stevenson, "The Lion Is Rampant" by Ross Laidlaw and "The New Confessions" by William Boyd all prominently feature the Bass Rock.

In "Kidnapped", Stevenson described Bass Rock as:

“It is just the one crag of rock, as everybody knows, but great enough to carve a city from.”

How to get to Bass Rock

Bass Rock is inaccessible as it is a good distance offshore from North Berwick in East Lothian.

The Scottish Seabird Centre does offer trips out to the rock, both to land on it or just loop around it. If you don't fancy that level of adventure, Tantallon Castle is a brilliant place to view the rock from onshore.

How to get to the Scottish Seabird Centre

The centre is located in the town of North Berwick, directly next to North Berwick Harbour.

North Berwick is most easily accessed from the A1 motorway via one of the access roads:

What3words: ///lecturers.thin.sparkles Google maps location

Boat trips to Bass Rock

As mentioned in this article, the Scottish Seabird Centre offers boat trips to Bass Rock; here are the trips on offer:

Bass Rock Experience : The only way to land on the rock and explore, perfect for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. £140 per person and over 16s only.

Seabird Catamaran Cruise : The 55-seat catamaran offers an hour-long cruise around Craigleigh and Bass Rock, but no physical landing on the rock. Adults £27, Children (4 to 16) £12.

Three Islands Seabird Safari : In the islands of Lamb, Craigleith, and Bass Rock, this trip is taken on a RIB (rigid inflatable boat). This ride is a bit rougher, so unsuitable for small children or pregnant women.

Gannet Diving Photography Trips : A boat trip specifically for photographers, perfect for shooting gannets diving into the water just off Bass Rock. Adults only, £105 per person. Two-hour duration.

Tips for visiting Bass Rock

Waterproofs are a must, especially on days with rougher seas.

Take a travel sickness tablet a few hours before your trip if you don't have your sea legs.

Bringing binoculars or a scope is highly recommended.

FAQs on Bass Rock

Here are a few frequently asked questions on Bass Rock:

Does anyone live on Bass Rock?

Not anymore; the lighthouse keepers left the rock in 1988 when it became fully automated. The gannets are now the sole inhabitants.

Why is it called Bass Rock?

The name comes from the Bass family, the earliest proprietors of the rock.

Can you land on Bass Rock?

The Scottish Seabird Centre offers  Bass Rock landing trips  at the cost of £140 per person for 16 years+ only. A boat trip to the rock is a fantastic opportunity for wildlife photography as it is the world's largest colony of northern gannets. The Seabird Centre has exclusive landing rights.

Where is the best place to view Bass Rock?

Tantallon Castle and Seacliff Beach are brilliant locations to view Bass Rock from the shore.

Is Bass Rock also called Ailsa Craig?

No, Ailsa Craig can be found offshore from Girvan on the west coast of Scotland. They do look similar, so it is easy to see why they can be confused. Ailsa Craig is also much larger.

Are there any other locations near Bass Rock worth visiting?

For film fanatics, St Abbs, the filming location for " New Asgard " in "Avengers: Endgame", is about a 50-minute drive to the southeast.

Tantallon Castle is an impressive castle ruin located on the coast; it looks out to Bass Rock and yields many great photo opportunities.

Torness Nuclear Power Station offers tours lasting 1.5 hours, Monday to Thursday, between 9 am and 4 pm.

Golfing opportunities at Glen Golf Course, Archerfield Links, Winterfield and Dunbar Golf Clubs.

John Muir Country Park includes forest walks, play areas, parks and beaches.

Gullane Beach to the west has great facilties and Gullane Village itself is lovely.

Key information on Bass Rock

Bass Rock is an island offshore from North Berwick.

The rock is coloured white as it is covered in white birds and bird excrement!

Prisons, castles and religious buildings have existed on Bass Rock in the past.

Bass Rock is a volcanic plug.

Bass Rock is the world's largest colony of northern gannets, 10% of the world's population.

A lighthouse exists on the rock but is now unmanned.

The best places to see Bass Rock are Tantallon Castle and Seacliff Beach.

Boat trips are available from the Scottish Seabird Centre.

Bass Rock makes for an awesome photo opportunity on your trip to east Scotland and is awe-inspiring to look out to from Tantallon Castle, Seacliff Beach and North Berwick. The boat trips would be an absolutely brilliant adventure, and I would love to experience it one day; if you ever try it, please let me know!

All information was correct at the time of writing, please check things like entry costs and opening times before you arrive.

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Bass Rock Visitor Guide

Bass Rock is an island located in the outer part of the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland. It’s approximately 1.2 miles offshore and 3.1 miles north-east of the East Lothian town of North Berwick. This sheer-sided volcanic rock is 107 meters at its highest point and is home to a large colony of Northern gannets.

The Scottish Seabird Centre operates boat trips to Bass Rock from North Berwick, allowing visitors to experience the island’s spectacular natural beauty and wildlife up close, making it a popular destination for birdwatchers and sightseers alike.

The Bass Rock, situated in the Firth of Forth in East Lothian, is an imposing volcanic plug renowned for its stark beauty. Home to the world’s largest Northern gannet colony, it’s a natural wonder for wildlife enthusiasts and sightseers. Its historic lighthouse adds charm to this truly unique island.

Just over a mile off the shore of North Berwick lies one of the most impressive islands in the Forth Estuary – the mighty Bass Rock. This rock outcrop is home to the largest northern gannet colony in the world and bird watchers from across the planet head there to take boat trips around the island to watch thousands of swarming birds make nests and hunt for food.

The Bass Rock is enormous and reaches 107 metres above sea level at its highest point, with most of the 320 million-year-old volcanic plug standing vertically above the pounding waves of the Firth of Forth . Swirling above it are countless birds engaged in an endless display of aerial acrobatics, while seals and dolphins are frequently seen below. Perhaps that’s why Sir David Attenborough described the Bass Rock as one of the twelve wildlife wonders of the world.

The gannets put on a fantastic show for visitors and it’s quite a spectacle to see them filling the sky overhead. With the Bass Rock as a background, it has to be one of the best photo opportunities in Scotland, but you can’t exactly put your shoes on and take a walk out there so you have two options to see the rock and its noisy residents up close.

First off, you can head to The Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick to view the wildlife through powerful telescopes and the remote-controlled cameras installed on the rock. The second (and my recommended option) is to book a trip on one of the tour boats that sail out from the Scottish Seabird Centre each day. It’s an exciting cruise and one that’ll keep both wildlife enthusiasts and keen photographers very happy during the sail.

The Highlights

1: Bass Rock is renowned for its large and vibrant colony of gannets which is why it’s often referred to as one of the ‘Wildlife Wonders of the World’. It’s a great place for birdwatchers and a trip around it is guaranteed to be enjoyed by the whole family.

2: The catamaran boat trip from the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick is good fun, but if you want a more adrenaline-fuelled trip, try the RIB (a type of fast open dinghy). I’d give it a miss if the Firth of Forth is a bit choppy, though – unless you want to get soaked.

3: With its spectacular wildlife and stunning views, Bass Rock is a fantastic spot for photography. Whether you’re an amateur or a professional, you’ll find plenty of great photo opportunities – especially if you join one of the tours that land on it.

Visiting Tips

1: Wear a waterproof jacket for the boat trip. The wind whips up the sea no matter the time of year and a decent jacket will stop you from getting cold and wet as you’ll mostly have to sit outside. If nothing else, consider sticking a disposable poncho (Amazon link) in your bag.

2: If you intend to go on this trip and photograph the birds I’m afraid a phone simply won’t cut it as they’ll be too far away to capture. This is one occasion where a proper camera with a zoom lens comes into its own. If you don’t have a zoom lens, the next best thing is a pair of binoculars (see my binocular reviews ).

3: You can get a great land-based view of Bass Rock from Berwick Law , but if you want a close-up view, visit the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick which has live-action camera feeds streamed directly from the rock.

Tourist Information

More than 150,000 gannets nest on the Bass Rock at the peak of the season but these numbers gradually reduce towards the end of October when they set off on their long journey south, with many travelling as far as the west coast of Africa.

When you first catch sight of the enormous monolith glinting polar-white in the middle of the Firth of Forth you could easily think it’s either covered in snow or the rock has been painted white, but in fact, what’s causing the colour are countless bird poops plastered across its surface! Nature lovers have plenty to look at without the gannet’s presence as the rock is also home to shags, guillemots, razorbills and puffins , and seals can usually be seen hauling themselves onto the rocks below.

Visitors who want to see the Bass Rock up close can book a tour on one of the boats operated by the Scottish Seabird Centre. These boats are either a 12-seat RIB or a 55-seat catamaran, with the catamaran taking you around three outcrops in this part of the Firth of Forth – the Lamb, Craigleith, and of course, the Bass Rock itself.

While looking through the binoculars in the seabird centre is interesting enough, taking a boat trip is the only way to fully appreciate the size of Bass Rock and the number of birds that live on it.

Departing from the Scottish Seabird Centre, the tour boat sails out into the Firth of Forth for a return trip that takes around two hours, which is fantastic fun when the sea is calm but not so much when the weather closes in and the waves get a bit choppy. The inflatable RIB is more exciting as it’s much faster but then it’s also less relaxing (and much wetter) and not so good for photographers.

The Seabird Centre also offers private boat tours and charters and I have it on good authority that taking the tour that lands on the rock is an incredible experience (they have exclusive landing rights), although it’s quite expensive.

The rock is uninhabited today but in the past, it was settled by Saint Baldred (an early Christian hermit) in 600AD and was also the site of a castle that was used as a prison in the 17th century. These days it’s left alone for nature to make use of thanks to its current owner Sir Hew Hamilton-Dalrymple whose family acquired it in 1706 from the Lauder family who had owned it for the previous six centuries.

Although Bass Rock is now free from humans there are a couple of man-made structures on it – namely the lighthouse that was built in 1902 and the remains of Saint Baldred’s chapel. There are also a few cameras that have been installed to keep watch on the birds, but other than that the rock has been given back to nature.

Things to Do

Boat Tours : Get close to the action by taking a boat tour around the rock. These tours give you an excellent opportunity to appreciate the sheer size of Bass Rock – and you might see seals, dolphins, and puffins on your journey.

Birdwatching : Bass Rock is internationally renowned as a wildlife reserve, hosting the world’s largest colony of Northern Gannets. With binoculars and a keen eye, you can watch these birds as they dive into the sea to fish, or see them nurturing their chicks during breeding season.

The Scottish Seabird Centre : Located in North Berwick, the Scottish Seabird Centre offers interactive live cameras that provide a bird’s eye view of Bass Rock. Learn more about the gannets and other seabirds and the conservation efforts in place to protect them.

Photography : Bass Rock’s dramatic landscapes and extraordinary wildlife make it a paradise for photographers. The white rock (due to the large number of gannets), the turquoise sea, and the dramatic lighthouse provide a unique backdrop for photos.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i get to bass rock.

Bass Rock is a volcanic plug situated in the Firth of Forth, just offshore from North Berwick in East Lothian. Access to Bass Rock is organized by the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick (Address: North Berwick, EH39 4SS).

Can you land on Bass Rock?

It’s not permitted to land on Bass Rock unless as part of an organized tour from the Scottish Seabird Centre. This is to limit disturbance to the bird colonies.

Does anyone live on Bass Rock?

The Bass Rock is uninhabited, but historically it was home to a prison, a castle, a chapel, and a small settlement.

What is Bass Rock made of?

Bass Rock is formed of phonolitic trachyte from the Dinantian age, which is the same rock that Berwick Law is made from. The rock covers 7 acres (3 hectares) and has an elevation of 351 feet (107 metres) at its highest point.

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Craig Neil is the author, photographer, admin, and pretty much everything else behind Out About Scotland. He lives near Edinburgh and spends his free time exploring Scotland and writing about his experiences. Follow him on Pinterest , Facebook , and YouTube .

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Seafari RIB tour to Bass Rock - Scottish Seabird Centre

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My partner and I joined a trip to Bass Rock today. Our guide provided informed and interesting... read more

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Seafari RIB tour to Bass Rock

Booking online was easy and on arrival we were kitted out with waterproof clothing and a life jacket. Boarding the RIB in the harbour was easy and those who needed it were given assistance. The tour went to 3 local islands with the highlight being the Bass rock with its massive colony of gannets. The skipper Brian handled the boat well and made it easy to take photos around the rock. Ashleigh gave a good commentary during the trip. I would recommend this tour for those who don't mind getting a little wet and enjoy an adventure There is a more conservative trip on a catamaran if you wish to stay dry. All I all it was a great trip.

An excellent venue for a trip to the coast, good shop and even better restaurant quality local produce on offer, with one of the finest fish and chips I have tasted with a fine selection of deserts to compliment, a great experience.

Everything you need to know about seabird ecology and the fantastic Bass Rock gannet colony - one of the largest single rock colonies in the world! Good for young and old alike and CCTV on Bass Rock that you can control from the Centre. Good food too and a great shop.

My two grandsons (ages 9 and 5) and I spent a super four hours at the Scottish Seabird Centre - for them, their first real experience of seabirds. They were particularly enthralled by the Bass Rock camera where they got 'up close' to the gannets! Along with the interactive equipment they were interested and sat through the whole 40 minute film on whales and dolphins, had fun at Prof Egghead's medi-sea-n science show, and learned lots about turtles by completing the simple quiz. All in all a great day out and one to replicate (next time we plan to go on one of the boat trips and get even closer to the birds and islands). Staff were welcoming, knowledgable and helpful. Food in the cafe was excellent quality and great value for money. Looking forward to our next visit!

The Seabird centre is quite small and the best thing to see is the live camera feeds of the bird colonies on the rocks in the sea- you can operate the camera yourself and view 360 degrees- also zooming in on the shoreline and folk walking on the beach! Some informative displays and interactive features. Nice cafe and shop too

My husband and I booked the 11.00am 3 Island Seabird Seafari on Monday 12 August as a treat for our 2 granddaughters age 11 and 9 years old. We found the Seabird Centre car park (Pay and Display) quite easily by following the brown signs and paid for a full day which was £8. After we had parked, we realised there was a free car park at the entrance to the pay and display, so check this out first if you arrive early. Although it is small and probably no chance of getting in there if you are there at lunchtime and beyond. The weather was sunny but not particularly warm, so we had several layers on, including light fleeces. The centre for booking tickets is down at the harbour, beyond where the Seabird Centre is located. This is where you collect your waterproofs and life jackets. No facilities there at all. Best to book in advance as places on this boat trip are limited. Good toilets and a cafe / restaurant with an indoor and an outside seating area can be found in the Seabird Centre itself. Nice food and pleasant staff. Before we boarded the RIB we were given a safety talk by our guide and were soon underway. The trip lasts for about 1hr 15mins. We were taken round the 3 islands ie The Lamb, Craigleith and the Bass Rock. The guide was excellent and told us all about the types of bird on the islands and some history about the islands and Tantallon Castle. If you want to see puffins, don’t go between 1st August and February as they leave to go on holiday. That was the only disappointment. We also saw several seals, including a baby which was bathing on the rock. You get taken in close to the Bass Rock but be warned it is extremely smelly because of the bird droppings. The skipper makes the RIB race along at a fair pace and does some sharp turns for fun, when he stops at the islands. You are not allowed to stand up or leave your seat but you can still get lots of good photos from the boat. Take binoculars if you can, as they do let you see the birds in more detail. It cost £100 for the 4 of us which may seem expensive but it was definitely worth the money. Can’t really comment on the Seabird Centre itself as we just ate lunch there, except to say that it was nice and modern and had good facilities. Lots of fluffy toys in the shop. An excellent day out, as North Berwick is also a lovely place to visit.

Welcome to Sula Boat Trips

Family fun at sea, bass rock sightseeing tour.

1.5 Hour Bass Rock Sightseeing Boat Trip

Spectacular 1.5 Hour sightseeing boat trips to the world famous Bass Rock from North Berwick. Modern and very family friendly boat, the most comfortable way to see the magnificent Bass Rock up close.

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3 Hour sightseeing trip around the Isle of May. There will be no landing on the island but you can get up close to the magnificent cliffs along the western side of the island. During the winter months you should be able to see some of the 2000 grey seal pups that are born on the island every year.

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

The Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick: Seeing Puffins and More!

Last updated: February 22, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 3 Comments

Jess has wanted to see puffins for a very long time, so when the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick, Scotland, offered us a trip on one of their bird watching tours at the start of puffin season, naturally we leapt at the opportunity.

Since then we’ve actually visited twice, and done two trips with the Scottish seabird centre – one sea safari, and one landing on the Isle of May, where puffins actually nest.

Of course, it’s about more than just puffins. There are loads of species of seabirds that you can see from the Scottish Seabird centre, including the world’s largest colony of northern gannets. And seabirds aren’t all – you might even be lucky enough to spot seals or even dolphins!

In this post, I’ll share our experiences of visiting the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick. I’m also going to share some tips on when is the best time of year to visit, what to expect, how to get to the Scottish Seabird Center, tips for photography and other gear you might consider bringing, and more. Let’s get started!

Our Visits to the Scottish Seabird Centre

The rib three islands seabird safari from the scottish seabird centre.

We have done two visits to the Scottish Seabird Center. Our first visit included entry to the seabird centre itself, and then a trip on a fast rigid inflatable boat (RIB) around three islands, which lasted around 75 minutes.

This first trip was at the end of May, which was during puffin breeding season. We had booked an afternoon Three Islands Seabird Safari , but turned up early because we wanted to explore the Seabird Discovery Centre a little bit before hand.

This was an excellent decision, and one we highly recommend to anyone planning a trip on one of the boats. You’ll learn all about the various bird and marine life that lives on the various islands around North Berwick, plus get the opportunity to see it all up close with the interactive live camera feeds.

It was both fun and entertaining, and we think is worth including as part of your visit. There are plenty of kid-friendly exhibits for families.

Of course, the highlight of our day was the seabird safari. So once we had seen everything we wanted to see in the discovery centre, we walked through to the harbour where our boat ride would leave from.

The Scottish Seabird centre offers a range of boat rides , the most popular of which are the Seabird Catamaran Cruise (perfect for all ages) and the Three Islands Seabird Safari RIB trip (the one we did).

They also offer two trips that actually land on some of the islands – the Isle of May and the Bass Rock landing trips, the former being what we did on our second trip (more on this below). These are very popular and book out well in advance, so if those interest you we highly recommend booking as far in advance as you can.

The Three Islands Seabird Safari RIB trip we took was the fast boat safari. This would take us around three islands: the Lamb, Craigleith, and the Bass Rock.

This being a fast boat in Scottish weather with no cover, obviously there was the potential that we might get wet – either from rain, or from sea spray.

Thankfully, the folks at the Scottish Seabird Centre have thought of this issue, and after check-in you are given a full set of top to bottom waterproofs and of course a lifejacket. Then, the only concern was my camera equipment – thankfully my Vanguard Alta Sky 49 has a built-in waterproof cover which solved that problem.

Then it was on to the boat itself. There’s room for 12 passengers on the RIB boat, and you sit on a raised and incredibly padded seat. This doesn’t look like it’s going to be comfortable, particularly in a bouncing boat, but we were hugely impressed by how soft the ride was when sitting on these seats.

There was also space under my seat area for my camera backpack, which was convenient as I put my camera away while the boat was moving between the islands to protect it from the spray. With all the movement of the boat, it was practically impossible to use it at these times.

Finally, with everyone on board and the safety briefing complete, we were on our way. Our boat had two staff members – one person to operate the boat and one guide. Our first stop was the Lamb, a fairly small rock island which, fun fact, is owned by Uri Geller , who believes it is a hiding place for ancient Egyptian treasure.

We didn’t spot any treasure, but we certainly saw plenty of seabirds, including, yes, our first puffins! We also saw a seal basking on a rock, so the trip was off to a positive start.

After circumnavigating the Lamb, we zipped across to our next stop, Craigleith Island. Again, this is a fairly small island, and like all the other islands we visited, is of volcanic origin. This is home to cormorants, shags and guillemots, as well as puffins, and we saw all of these species, including closer views of puffins!

Finally, having slowly circumnavigated Craigleith and taken many photos, we headed to the Bass Rock. This is by far the largest of the islands located off this part of the Scottish coast, and can be seen from miles around.

It’s a very dramatic rock, with walls of basalt rising vertically out of the sea to a height of 107 metres, and is home to the world’s largest population of northern gannets – over 150,000 of them in fact.

As you can imagine, this makes for spectacular viewing, with thousands of birds wheeling overhead and stacked up on the rocks before you. Bass Rock is also home to a lighthouse, which makes for some interesting photographic opportunities. You get close enough to smell the guano! The circuit around Bass Rock is definitely a highlight of the ride!

Once we were done with the Bass Rock, and had taken a great many photos, our boat turned it’s nose for home. Before we returned to North Berwick harbour though, there was one final treat in store. We cruised in along the coast, and were given a fantastic view of Tantallon Castle, whilst being regaled with tales of shipwrecks along the coast. All in all, a fantastic day out, and one we can highly recommend!

The Isle of May Landing Trip from the Scottish Seabird Centre

Our second trip with the Scottish Seabird Centre was an Isle of May landing. This is a half-day trip, which sees you taking a fast boat out to the Isle of May, and then spending some time on the island. Normally this runs April – September.

When we did the trip, the boat was a covered RIB with dual 400hp engines. This meant it went very fast, but we were protected from the spray as the seating area was entirely enclosed. For this reason, we were not issued with full coveralls for this trip, just lifejackets.

The journey to the Isle of May took around half an hour each way, and on our trip we had three and a half hours on the islands itself. Times may vary depending on tide times and sea conditions, but we believe our trip was fairly representative.

On the Isle of May, the main draw during our visit, which was in early July, was the huge puffin colony. There were literally tens of thousands of puffins flying all around us all across the island, and as they had chicks in their nests, the majority of them were flying with food in their mouths.

Which means a lot of photos of puffins!

Of course, puffins weren’t the only draw. The island has a lot of other nesting birds, including Arctic terns, gulls, guillemots and razorbacks, to name but a few. We also saw a seal on the way in to the jetty, which was nice!

Whilst on the island, we were given a welcome talk, and then given the option of taking a guided tour or going off on our own. We chose the former, but we did take advantage of the opening of the lighthouse on the island to visit it.

The day we visited was very hot, luckily we had put suncream on before we visited as there was no real shade on the island with the exception of the lighthouse and the visitor welcome area. This visitor welcome area was also home to some toilets.

We did forget drinking water, which was a huge omission given how hot it was, and the island doesn’t have drinking water available for day visitors. Thankfully one of the passenger boats to the island does have a small shop onboard, from which you can buy snacks and drinks, so we were saved by that.

We’d definitely suggest bringing your own snacks and drinks though. Just be aware there are no litter facilities on the islands, so you must take all your rubbish home with you.

When Can you See Puffins in Scotland?

The puffin breeding season normally runs from April through to August. Eggs are laid on at the end of April or start of May, incubation takes 36-45 days, and fledging occurs 34-60 days after hatching.

So you can definitely see puffins on land from late March through to August in Scotland.

Our favorite time is around June and July though, when the puffins are feeding their chicks and you can get those iconic photos of puffins with their beaks full of fish!

Where Can You See Puffins in Scotland?

Puffins nest in a number of locations around Scotland. We’ve seen them on the Isle of May and Lunga, but you can also see them on Handa Island, Fowlsheugh and Sumburgh Head (Shetland).

Practicalities for Visiting the Scottish Seabird Centre

Scottish Seabird Centre Opening hours and prices

The Discovery Centre at the Scottish Seabird Centre is open year round, with opening hours varying depending on the time of year. There is an admission charge, with concessions available – check their website for the most up to date information on pricing and opening times. There’s a café on site which serves hot and cold food and drinks as well.

Boat trips only operate in the better months between Easter and Autumn, and carry a separate price, although if you book a visit to the Discovery Centre at the same time as booking your boat trip, you’ll get a discount. We’d suggest doing both if you can, as you’ll learn a lot more. For full information on all the boat rides they do, see the website here .

Camera tips

If you’re keen on getting some great photos of seabirds, here are some tips to help you out, covering gear to take and general advice on getting the best shots.

• I took two full frame camera bodies with me on both trips, one equipped with a wide angle lens (17-40mm) and one equipped with a telephoto (70-200mm). For the Isle of May landing, I also took a 2x teleconvertor, giving me an equivalent 140-400mm lens. I certainly telephoto lens more, and just used the wide angle for the shots of the islands and us on the boat, although it did come in useful for capturing the drama that is the Bass Rock up close.
• I would definitely suggest that you take a camera with as long a zoom as you have, because seabirds are quite small and unless you are very lucky, you won’t be closer than 10 – 20 metres to them. Most of the puffin shots in this post are cropped from the original to focus more on the puffin, and having more zoom can save you from losing resolution in crops.
• If you don’t do one of the island landing trips, you’re going to be shooting from a rolling boat. Whilst the boat does slow down and occasionally stop, the sea is always going to be moving, so you’ll want to shoot at a relatively high shutter speed and do your best to hold your camera as still as you can.
• If you are doing a landing trip, you might want to bring a monopod to support your lens. You will also get quite close to the puffins compared to a boat safari, and many people visiting were happy with the photos they were getting from their compact cameras. So definitely don’t leave your camera behind if you have one – you don’t need an ultra long zoom or top of the range SLR camera to get good photos on the Isle of May!
• The sea environment is also, obviously, a rather wet place. I’d highly recommend having a waterproof bag of some description to stow your camera equipment in, and to put it away during the periods of travel between the islands. Even if it’s a calm, dry day, spray can be picked up and get your gear wet. We had a fairly grey day with moderate seas for our RIB safari, and we didn’t get particularly wet, but I was glad to have my camera bag nonetheless.
• Don’t forget, if you’re looking for camera gear recommendations, we have a full list of what we travel with , as well as a guide to choosing a travel camera to help you out!

Getting to the Scottish Seabird Centre

The Scottish Seabird Centre is in North Berwick, which is around 25 miles east of Edinburgh, or 100 miles north of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Obviously you can reach it by car, and there is car parking available in North Berwick for visitors.

It’s also easy to reach by public transport from Edinburgh. The fastest option is the direct train service from Edinburgh to North Berwick with Scotrail, which takes around 35 minutes. There are also a number of buses you can take. In both cases, hold on to your bus or train ticket, as these can be redeemed for discounted admission to the centre if you don’t book in advance.

Further Reading

That pretty much sums up our experience and guide to visiting the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick, Scotland. Before we leave you though, we wanted to point you in the direction of some of our other Scotland and UK resources that you might find useful if you’re planning a trip here.

• For Edinburgh, check out our Edinburgh content, including A two day Edinburgh itinerary ,  21 Highlights in Edinburgh , Getting off the beaten path in Edinburgh and a Guide to Harry Potter locations in Edinburgh
• If you head south of Edinburgh, don’t miss our Guide to Touring the Scottish Borders
• For Glasgow, we have A Two Day Glasgow and Loch Lomond itinerary , as well as this detailed Guide to Glasgow Attractions
• Heading further north in Scotland? Check out our definitive guide to the Best Photography Locations on the North Coast 500 , as well as Where to Stay on the North Coast 500
• If you’re visiting London, take a look at our Two Day London Itinerary , our guide to the Best Photography Locations in London and our Tips on Buying and Using the London Pass
• Finally, for UK wide planning, we have both a Two Week UK Itinerary and a One Week UK itinerary to help with your trip!

And that’s it! We hope you enjoyed our post. As always, if you have any questions or comments on any of the above, don’t hesitate to let us know, either from our contact page or in the comments below. Safe travels!

So you know: The Scottish Seabird Centre provided us with complimentary tickets for both the boat ride and our visit to the discovery centre, in exchange for us sharing our thoughts. As always, opinions remain our own – check our out Code of Ethics for more information on how we partner with folks and what that means.

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There are 3 comments on this post

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Henry T. says

22nd February 2023 at 12:37 pm

Hi Laurence & Jess,

Thanks so much for sharing your experience at the Scottish Seabird Centre and especially about the boat rides. I would love to see puffins in Scotland. We are thinking about making a stop here since our time in the Scottish Borders will be taking us near North Berwick.

A few questions: 1) What is the best month(s) to guarantee puffin and gannet sightings in Scotland from the boats? 2) How far in advance do we need to book to guarantee a summer boat booking (we willl be 4 people)? and 3) Any other recommended places to see in this area?

Thanks so much for your review and response!!!

Laurence Norah says

22nd February 2023 at 1:04 pm

It’s our pleasure! If you are going to be near North Berwick then we can definitely recommend the Isle of May boat trip, it’s brilliant. So you can see puffins from around April through to around mid-August (it can vary a bit but that’s the main season). Gannets are around from January through to September, with the main nesting time being April onwards.

I’d probably recommend June or July as my favourite time, especially for the puffins, as that is when they have chicks and the adults will be flying around with fish in their beaks. So you could do the boat tour which tours the islands, or the Isle of May landing. The latter will get you a lot closer to the puffins and is my favourite of the tours.

It’s also very popular, some of the dates for the Isle of May landing are already sold out for June for example. So I would book as soon as you can!

In terms of other things to see in the area, it will depend a bit on your interests but the National Museum of Flight is excellent, and home to one of the world’s few surviving Concorde planes. Glenkinchie Distillery is relatively close as well. There’s also Tantallon Castle, and the National Mining Museum of Scotland is also really good.

I hope this helps, have a wonderful time in Scotland!

Aiman Parween says

3rd September 2017 at 8:15 am

travelling is really a great exercise.

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Bass Rock Landing Trip

Specialist photographic half day landing trip on the Bass Rock

To sit within a metre of a gannet. To capture that one image. To catch that moment in time! 

The senses are bombarded, the noise, the distinctive odour, the swooping of overhead of this majestic bird. 3hrs pass in a flash!

This unique exclusive photographic experience is a photographer’s dream.

All trips will depart from North Berwick harbour.

Things to bring:

Food, water, sturdy boots, waterproofs, rucksack, mask and hand gel.

Camera Equipment: 

Please ensure all camera equipment and optics are in dry bags, as conditions can be wet on the boat and island. Please ensure this equipment is all packed away before getting on and off of the vessel.

Please note: 

The Bass Rock surface can be very wet and slippery. Please make sure you wear appropriate clothes to keep warm (dress as if you were hiking all day in different conditions). You must be confident underfoot as the landing can be difficult as there is no pontoon.

There are no toilets on the island.

Please note that we reserve the right to refuse boarding or landing, if our guide and or skipper are concerned about your clothing or level of mobility. This will be assessed at the departure point. We are unable to provide a refund should this situation occur. If you are unsure as to what to wear or your level of mobility, please call our boat office and seek advice BEFORE booking. You may wish to consider one of our alternative non-landing trips should you be unable to experience the Bass Rock Landing trip.

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