Discover the Bass Rock one of the largest gannet colonies on the planet!

Explore one of the largest gannet colonies in the world, the Bass Rock.

Bass Rock is one of nature’s most dramatic stages—a jagged island rising steeply out of the North Sea, crowned by a lighthouse and teeming with life. For decades, it has been a sanctuary for Northern gannets, the UK’s largest seabird, whose white wings and golden heads make them a breathtaking sight.

Gannets on the Bass Rock

The first record of gannets on the Bass Rock goes right back to the 15th century. Today this iconic seabird colony is one of the largest Northern gannet colonies on the planet and at the peak of the breeding season it is an unforgetable wildlife spectacle.

The island lies just 5 kilometres off the coast of North Berwick and it was this spectacular seabird colony that first inspired the founders of our Charity to establish the Seabird Centre. The original purpose of the Centre was to connect people, locals and visitors, with this special island and introduce them to the gannets and the other exceptional seabird species that Scotland's seas support. Since opening our doors in 2000 we have been doing just that through our ground-breaking live cameras on the island, our interactive exhibits in the Discovery Experience, our inspiring outreach and education programmes and our thrilling guided wildlife boat trips.

Scotland's seabirds need our help now more than ever. Over 70% of the seabird species that breed in Scotland are in decline and on the Bass Rock alone we have seen gannet number plummet by more than 30% following the outbreak of avian flu in 2022.

Visit the Bass Rock

The sight, sound and smell of one of the world's largest Northern gannet colonies is an unforgettable wildlife experience. Our guided wildlife boat trips take you around this amazing island allowing you to experience it for yourself. Choose a once in a lifetime landing trip or a leisurely Catamaran cruise, there's a boat trip to suit all tastes, whether you're a seasoned birder, an avid wildlife photographer or a first time visitor.

When to see gannets

The gannets start to return to the Bass Rock in late February in advance of the breeding season and depart at the end of October when they head out for wintering grounds in the southern North Sea, the Mediterranean or West Africa.

Our boat trips run from early April right through to the start of October.

The three-islands guided wildlife boat trip

Live Webcams on the Bass Rock

We know not everyone is able to visit and our ground-breaking new 360 live webcams give you a rare insight into the lives of these amazing seabirds. Click on the link below and be transported into the heart of the Bass Rock gannet colony.

Research on the Bass Rock

Not only is the Bass Rock an incredible wildlife spectacle, it also provides a unique opportunity to learn more about gannets and what they can tell us about the habitats they depend on. Understanding the marine environment is vital if we want to effectively protect and restore it.

For many years we've been working with a range of different research partners to better understand the health of this iconic seabird colony, find out more about these projects and partnerships via the links below.