Bass Rock Boat Trips

Leuchie Walled Garden is the perfect base for exploring the Bass Rock and the wildlife of the Firth of Forth.

Around 500,000 seabirds are present in the Forth Islands during the summer, including 150,000 gannets and 90,000 puffins. There are also Kittiwakes, terns, guillemots, razorbills, shags, cormorants, eiders and gulls.

The best way to experience these wonderful birds is to take a boat trip around the Bass Rock and Craigleith islands from North Berwick Harbour.

One option is to take a one-hour trip on board Scottish Seabird Centre’s Seafari Explorer. 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 Puffins before heading down to the world famous Bass Rock with its 150,000 nesting Gannets.

It’s a fantastic trip for all ages, including well-behaved dogs. Look out for seals and even Dolphins who sometimes race beside the boat.

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 boat's design, the historic harbour and maritime safety regulations, we cannot carry passengers in wheelchairs.

The crew are, however, willing to help wherever possible to assist you in boarding the vessel. Depending on the tide level, this can involve climbing and descending several steep stairs, so all passengers must be comfortable doing this.

Trips run regularly throughout the summer months and can be booked at www.seabird.org. Adult tickets cost £27 per person.

Bass Rock Guided Landing Trips

The Seabird Centre also provides Guided Bass Rock Landing Trips.

Accompanied by an expert guide, you will travel to, and land on, the Bass Rock, the world's largest colony of Northern gannets and spend three hours on the rock. With only a few trips organised each year, this is an unforgettable experience.

The Bass was Scotland’s Alcatraz in the Sixteenth Century, where political and religious prisoners were incarcerated. You get to see the ruins of the prison and the gannets up close.

The cost is £140 per person with a minimum of six people landing. Tickets can be booked on the Seabird Centre website.

Bespoke Bass Rock Trips

Leuchie Walled Garden can also provide our guests with bespoke boat trips to the Bass Rock. Guests are encouraged to discuss this with the owner before or during their stay with us.