The Bass Rock: ‘One of the 12 wildlife wonders of the world’ acting as a sanctuary for gannets in east coast of Scotland
Located in the outer part of the Firth of Forth – situated a little more than a mile offshore and about three miles north-east of North Berwick – the Bass is a steep-sided volcanic rock, 107 metres at its highest point.
However, what makes this volcanic lump in Scotland’s east coast so unique is that it is the largest single rock colony of northern gannets on the planet.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHosting more than 150,000 of seabirds during peak breeding season, the island saw the first ornithologists who gave the gannet the scientific term Sula Bassana or Morus Bassanus – where the name of the island comes from.
With treacherous jagged edges, precariously placed cliffs, ancient chapel ruins, a lighthouse and a castle-turned-prison, this volcanic plug is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is steeped in rich history.
The Bass appears in Catriona, the sequel to Kidnapped by the prolific Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson, who described it as “just the one crag of rock, as everybody knows, but great enough to carve a city from”.
The writer’s cousin, David Stevenson, designed the Bass lighthouse, which appeared in 1902.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHistorically, it is said the very first of all human inhabitants was Saint Baldred in 600 AD – an evangelist, monastery founder, and hermit.
Today, only the ruins of Saint Baldred’s Chapel remain upon the spot he used to frequent.
A message from the Editor:
Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.
If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.