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Wow factor
Accessibility
Photo potential
The Bass Rock
| Directions: |
Bass Rock is reached only by boat and landing rights are available exclusively to the Seabird Centre at North Berwick, accessible from the A198 off the main A1 road, 25-miles from the centre of Edinburgh. There is car park (fees payable) at the centre. North Berwick is also accessible by Rail (ScotRail) and there is a courtesy bus from the rail station to the Seabird Centre. |
| Accessibility: |
Dependent on weather. In good conditions, accessibility is excellent but rough seas will restrict landings. |
| Costs: |
Approx £85 to include the boat trip and access to the Rock. |
| Best time to visit: |
April, for nesting. June and July for general photography. |
Venue information
The Bass Rock, three miles from North Berwick is the largest single-island gannet colony in the world and is regarded by David Attenborough as “one of the Twelve Wildlife Wonders of the World”. Although almost exclusively the domain of over 100,000 gannets, the lower ledges of the Rock are home to shags, guillemots and razorbills, with seals hauling up on the rocks below. Several puffins also nest within the ruins of the old fortifications.
From January, the gannets return to the island to find their mate and their old nest. The gannets spend most of the year on the Rock, until the end of October when the juveniles set out on their long journey down to the West Coast of Africa. Be sure to take a range of lenses, as photographers can get very close to the birds and wide-angle lenses will prove just as useable as long telephotos.
Venue verdict: About the best place in the UK to photograph gannets and a great place to photograph their behaviour. It is also possible on the boat ride to photograph diving gannets, if you’re quick enough!
Ratings (out of 5): 4
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Bass Rock is a short walk from North Berwick. Although Bass Rock is great for gannets (and it is) North Berwick is a small town with plenty of photographic opportunities. With a short walk through the town you can see a decrepit old church with plenty of character, statues galore and plenty of interesting people shots!!
(Written by: krazykatt)
31 October 2010 09:20