rib boat trips north berwick

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Scottish Seabird Centre

Get back to nature with a visit to this award-winning, all-weather attraction. Discovery Experience, gift shop, cafe and boat trips.

Enjoy a great day out at the seaside with the award winning Scottish Seabird Centre, North Berwick, only 30 minutes from Edinburgh.

In the Discovery Experience control interactive live cameras on the local islands to zoom in on the amazing wildlife in its natural habitat. Don't miss the gannets and the puffins on the Isle of May National Nature Reserve, the biggest puffin colony on the east coast of Britain. 

There's different wildlife to see throughout the year and at different stages of the breeding season. Check out the wildlife calendar on their website for details of what you might see. 

Relax in the Seabird Café which boasts a large seaside sun deck, with stunning views out to the Firth of Forth. There's also a gift shop and seasonal boat trips.

Boat trips run between April and the end of September. Enjoy the wildlife in the Firth of Forth from the custom built 55 seat catamaran or the Three Islands Seabird Seafari on the fast RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat). Further trips include Landing trips to the Isle of May and Bass Rock.

Full disabled access, baby changing and free parking. Visitors with a valid train ticket can receive 20% discount on entry to the Discovery Experience on that day. 

Public Transport Directions

Walking and cycling

The Scottish Seabird Centre forms part of the  John Muir Way . We have bike racks and the North Berwick train is specially equipped with additional bike storage.

Fast, 35 minute journey from Edinburgh Waverley. 

We offer a 20% discount for the  Discovery Experience  with a valid train ticket for that day,

The Seabird Centre is a 15 minute walk from North Berwick train station: this walk is downhill to the Centre and uphill back to the station.

Local taxi companies: Jim's Taxis +44 (0)1620 894900 and A2B Taxis +44 (0)1620 895000.

Transport around East Lothian is provided by  First East Scotland ,  Eve Coaches  and  Prentice Coaches.

Only 25 miles/ 40kms from the centre of Edinburgh, the Scottish Seabird Centre and North Berwick are signposted from the A1. Follow the brown tourist signs to the Seabird Centre’s pay-and-display car park, we are 5 minutes walk from here. Just head for the sea!.

The parking rates are: Up to 1 hour £3.00; Up to 2 hours £5.00; Up to 3 hours £7.00; full day (9am to 6pm) £8.00 and FREE from October to February. All parking income supports the conservation and education work of our Charity.

Please note, there is disabled parking adjacent to the Centre and in the Centre's car park.

Transport and Parking

• On Public Transport Route
• Coach Parking
• Public Parking Nearby
• Pets Welcome

Accessibility

• Lift or stairlift
• Ramp to main entrance
• Wheelchairs or mobility aids provided
• Level access to all public areas
• Partially suitable for visitors with limited mobility
• Level access to main entrance
• Accessible Parking Or Drop-off Point
• Level access to dining room, cafe or restaurant
• Level Access
• Wheelchair access throughout
• Level access from entrance to reception
• Accessible toilets
• Access guide

Dietary Options

• Gluten Free
• Vegan Meals Available
• Vegetarian Meals available
• Children's Menu Available
• Baby Changing Facilities
• Public Toilet Facilities
• Lunch Available
• Breakfast Available
• Licensed Bar
• Catering Available
• Patio or Beer Garden
• Cafe or Restaurant

Payment Methods

• Credit Card
• Coastal Location
• Sea/Loch View
• Town Location

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Explore Scotland's seas

We are a marine conservation and education charity with an award-winning visitor centre, in the beautiful coastal town of North Berwick. Dive in to our interactive Discovery Experience, relax in our seabird café, browse our gift shop or hop onto a seasonal boat trip around the local islands teeming with wildlife, including the spectacular Bass Rock gannet colony featured in BBC1's Wild Isles. *PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR DISCOVERY EXPERIENCE IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO FLOOD DAMAGE (16 FEB 2024). OUR CAFE AND SHOP ARE OPEN AS NORMAL AND FREE INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR EXHIBITION SPACE*

Explore the wonders of Scotland's seas in the Discovery Experience in our upgraded visitor attraction. Control interactive live cameras to zoom in on amazing local wildlife, including the amazing Bass Rock which is the world's largest northern gannet colony. Soak up the coastal views from our seabird café and browse sustainable gifts in our shop. You can get up close to the local wildlife on one of our seasonal boat trips or learn more by joining in our family-focused outdoor activities. We are open daily.

• Wildlife boat trips
• What's On
• Plan your visit

Discovery Experience - Temporary Closure

Sadly the Discovery Experience has been closed due to flood damage (16 Feb 2024). We apologise for any disappointment. Our cafe and shop are open as normal and free interactive drop-in activities are available in our exhibition space. Thank you for your patience and support.

Scotland's marine environment is exceptional and diverse. Over 18,000km of coastline, more than 900 islands, and around 61% of the UK's seas support more than 6,500 species of animals and plants.

• Marine and coastal habitats
• Conservation

Get involved

Our marine wildlife and habitats are facing unprecedented threats from the climate crisis, ocean acidification and pollution. Find out what you can do to help protect these fragile environments and get involved in marine conservation.

The aim of the Scottish Seabird Centre's education programme is to inspire and engage people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to appreciate, learn about and care for Scotland's wildlife and natural environment. As an independent charity, we are committed to lifelong learning and provide a diverse range of formal and informal education programmes.

• Primary learning
• Secondary learning
• Families and groups

Outdoor Learning

We offer indoor and outdoor learning programmes for ages 4+ and all linked to the Curriculum for Excellence. The ultimate seaside school trips!

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• Activity Map
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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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Scottish Seabird Centre

There’s a varying variety of boat trips available to experience at the Seabird centre. From the Catamaran trip around the Bass Rock and the island of Craigleith that takes you on an hour-long excursion around the world’s largest colony of Northern gannets to the Three Islands Seabird Seafari on their 12 seat RIB, there are trips available everyone can enjoy.  

On land back at the centre, take a look into the interactive wildlife cameras that zoom into the further and forth islands to see sea wildlife in its purest form. Delve into their newly released 3D marine wildlife theatre and see a wide range of films that explore many different marine environments and wildlife. There’s so much to do at the Seabird centre, making for a fantastic family day out.  

When getting peckish, you can enjoy a sit down at the Seabird Cafe that offers fresh locally-sourced produce, hot and cold drinks and more.  

Entry ranges from £8.95 for adults to £4.95 for children and under 3s go FREE.  

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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!

Table of Contents:

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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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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Enjoying Wildlife – Scotland and Beyond

Boat trip to Bass Rock

Bass Rock is the world’s largest Northern Gannet colony. I have been wanting to visit it for ages and finally made it at the weekend.

We booked on a fast RIB boat trip organised by the Scottish Seabird Centre at North Berwick. This “Three Island Seafari” trip also visited the Lamb and Craigleith but it was quite late in the season to see much birdlife on these Islands but Bass Rock itself did not disappoint.

Since the boat we were on was a RIB and it was quite windy we did get very wet but I guess that just made it a bit of an adventure. But I did have to work hard to keep my camera equipment and binoculars dry. Slower, more sedate boats are available.

Before reaching Bass Rock we saw some Common Guillemots and a Razorbill. There are a lot of Guillemots and Razorbills close to west coast shore at the moment and in rivers. Over the last few weeks I have seen Guillemots in the Forth around Stirling, for example. Whilst the cause is not yet fully understood it is not natural, healthy behaviour and sadly many dead birds have been found too .

On a happier note we got a nice close-up view of a Grey Seal around Craigleith. Along with a few Shags and Cormorants drying their wings.

As we approached Bass Rock the air started to fill with Gannets, our largest native seabird. Quite a sight.

We also came across several juvenile Gannets in the water, not yet able to fly. Juvenile Gannets have the same basic shape as the adults but their plumage is completely different which means many people don’t realise they are Gannets at all. After a life of being cared for by two parents they leave the nest weighing more than their target weight and are unable to fly as a result. It will be a few weeks before they master this skill.

Once at Bass Rock itself we saw the cliffs covered in Gannets by the thousand – a truly spectacular sight, with all the accompanying sounds and smells.

We were able to pick out more Gannet chicks (known as guga’s) some still with their downy covering others moulting this off. Some were practicing their flying skills.

As we continued around the island every available nest site was occupied with thousands of Gannets. At the peak of the season Bass Rock is home to over 150,000 Gannets, over half of the European total!

Gannets are actually highly territorial birds on the nest, albeit protecting a very small area. If a guga (Gannet chick) falls from the nest outside the territory the parents will no longer recognise it as offspring and therefore they will no longer care for it and it will perish. There is a clear line between their territory and that of their neighbour and if that line is crossed, warnings will be given and if they are ignored a fight will erupt. Mostly the fighting Gannets will fall into the water to continue the fight. These fights are often to the death as a Gannet beak is a formidable weapon. We saw one dead gannet being eaten by a Greater Black-Backed Gull following such a fight. We also interrupted a dramatic fight in progress.

As our boat approach the Gannets stopped fighting each other to get away from us and I felt we effectively broke up the contest. This was probably good news for the weaker bird.

As we left the Island we again saw countless Gannets leaving the rock going out to the fishing grounds across the North Sea.

A magnificent bird and great experience. Recommend a visit.

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View our fleet of vessels.

The Maid of the Forth is authorised to transport up to 220 passengers and is carefully crafted to service trips to Inchcolm Island with gangways on both lower and upper decks, ensuring safe access regardless of tide conditions. Featuring dual passenger levels, the lower deck is enclosed, offering warmth, while the upper deck is open, providing a delightful experience to relish the sea breeze during your voyage.  Onboard, guests will find a compact yet well-equipped bar, ready to cater to their beverages needs. Additionally, there are separate restroom facilities available for both women and men, ensuring comfort and convenience for all passengers during their journey.

In addition to our main vessel, we run a fleet of high-speed Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) specifically tailored for unique wildlife-watching excursions. Our fleet includes two boats stationed in North Berwick and one in South Queensferry, each accommodating up to 12 passengers, making them ideal for intimate groups seeking a more personalized experience. To enhance comfort during extended trips or in chilly weather, we offer a cabin RIB where all 12 passengers can cozy up inside a heated cabin, ensuring a snug and enjoyable journey.

We also have Seafari Explorer, a powered catamaran built in 2013 and capable of carrying 55 passengers.

Based in North Berwick she runs regular trips out to the Bass Rock.

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The Braveheart is run by two local skippers, characters who are knowledgeable about the local wildlife, geology and history.

Available for hire by the hour, the Braveheart runs from North Berwick Harbour for parties of up to 10 people. A great day out with a difference, we can offer sight seeing, bird watching, fishing for cod or mackerel, scuba diving, photography, or a trip around the local islands of Bass Rock, Craigleith, Lamb, and Fidra or across the Firth of Forth to Anstruther for fish and chips.

Just 30 minutes from central Edinburgh by train, come to wonderful North Berwick for a small and friendly boat trip aboard the Braveheart - available all year round.

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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

Honest guide to Scotland & N. England

Bass Rock boat trips

📌 North Berwick, East Lothian ★★★★★

Gaze out into the Firth of Forth from North Berwick and your eyes will be drawn to a strangely shaped island just offshore. The unlikely volcanic plug of Bass Rock only measures a few hundred metres from end to end but reaches a height of over 100 metres with sheer cliffs on three sides. The side you can see from the Lothian mainland is slightly more hospitable… but why is it almost completely white in colour? The answer: over 150,000 gannets during breeding season and their droppings – this is the largest single colony for the species anywhere in the world. Taking a boat trip out to the rock is surely one of the most memorable experiences you can have in the Scottish Lowlands. It’s an awesome, noisy, stinking spectacle where cameras and binoculars are a must, with a hood (to protect yourself from gannet droppings) also recommended! The rock’s steep sides means you can get right up close to the birds; gannets are obviously the main attraction but there are a few guillemots, razorbills and shags wherever they can gain a fragile foothold on the cliffs. We can personally recommend the Scottish Seabird Centre ‘s catamaran cruise, which also takes in the growing puffin colony on nearby Craigleith. Several other trips are available, including expensive excursions which include landing on the rock itself.

📌 Bass Rock is off the East Lothian coast between North Berwick & Dunbar 🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 602873 🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.077630,-2.640467

💬 Most trips depart from North Berwick harbour, 🧭 NT 554857 / 🛰️ 56.061626,-2.718454

🚆🚌 Train / bus to North Berwick 🚗 Street parking nearby North Berwick harbour – unrestricted spaces are a little further away

⌚ Generally at least daily, approximately April to October – check official websites 🎫 £28+ adult / £12+ child depending on trip type & operator

💬 Operators include the Scottish Seabird Centre (🔗 seabird.org ) & Sula Boat Trips (🔗 sulaboattrips.co.uk )

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Does Maggie still do boat trips to Bass Rock

Sorry Brenda – I’m not sure who Maggie is.

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Seabird Catamaran Cruise

1 Hour cruise to Craigleith and the Bass Rock on a family friendly boat

Seabird Catamaran

 Duration 1hr (approx)

A one hour family friendly trip on board Seafari Explorer around Craigleith and the Bass Rock.  This stable 55 passenger vessel was custom built in 2012 to provide a family friendly Bass Rock boat trip experience.  This trip takes you around Craigleith with its 15,000 nesting Puffin's before heading down to the world famous Bass Rock with it's 150,000 nesting Gannets.  Fantastic trip for all ages including well behaved dogs.  Keep a look out for seals and even Dolphins, we are seeing more of these amazing mammals who sometimes race along beside the boat on our trips.

As with all boat trips, the weather out on the sea is usually a bit colder than on the land, so make sure to wrap up warm, a waterproof jacket is always handy even in the middle of the glorious scottish summer.  The boat can get in really close to the gannet colonies of the Bass Rock so you will get amazing views of these stunning seabirds.

Due to the design of the boat, historic harbour and maritime safety regulations we are unable to carry passengers in wheelchairs.  Our crew are however willing to help wherever possible to assist you to board the vessel, but depending on the tide level, this can involve climbing and decending several steep stairs, so all passengers must be comfortable doing this.  If in any doubt, please contact our booking office before making your booking and we can provide more information

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