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Bass rock worth it (1 Viewer)

Depends on whether you want to be deafened by 100,000 Gannets. The Farnes has far greater diversity of seabirds, you'll see Gannets there too, thoughonly distantly. My vote would be for the Farnes, but then again, I'm biased as it's my home county :-O
 
davholla said:
I have family in Edinburgh and I was thinking of going to Bass Rock if I visit them in April or May.
However it costs £125 per person
https://www.seabird.org/visit/boats/bass-rock-landings/10/22/160
The Farne Isles only cost £41 per person
http://www.farne-islands.com/trips/birdwatch.htm

Is it really worth £80 more?
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If you are coming up from London you should detour to Bempton RSPB Reserve between Filey and Bridlington.Entrance is free if you are a RSPB member otherwise there is a small parking charge.There will be plenty of Gannets on the cliffs and you should get some amazingly close views if the birds are coming up onto the grass on the cliff top to collect nesting material. There are also close views of Guillemots and Razorbills.Don't expect much in the way of Puffins. The Farnes are much better for Puffins.You should also get stunning views of Guillemots,Razorbills,Shags,Eiders and terns here . Do the boat trip that lands you on both Staple Island and Inner Farne,in my view much better value than landing on the Bass Rock.However there are no Gannets on the Farnes. The Bass Rock is covered in Gannets so much so that if you do land you are restricted to a small area around the old chapel.The other seabird colony that is well worth a visit is St.Abb's Head,although no Gannets here either.
Tom Lawson.
 
You might also want to consider a trip to the Isle of May. Boats go from Anstruther in Fife and you should get to see a wide selection of seabirds, including vast numbers of Puffins, and other wildlife really well:
http://www.isleofmayferry.com/
http://www.isleofmayboattrips.co.uk/
A bargain at £25/ £28 and not too far from Edinburgh. There are also trips from North Berwick but they seem to be a bit more expensive. Plus you can go to the chippy in Anstruther after your trip, which is great.
 
You could also go on one of the general tourist trips from North Berwick. Much cheaper than the price you quoted and no shortage of gannets, guillemots, puffins etc to be seen from the boat.
 
ianp234 said:
You could also go on one of the general tourist trips from North Berwick. Much cheaper than the price you quoted and no shortage of gannets, guillemots, puffins etc to be seen from the boat.
Click to expand...

I did this a couple of years back for much less money- maybe £25 or so. You get really close to the rock + pause to observe/photograph them + have exceptionally close views of the Gannets. Wonderful experience.

Farnes are superb + an experience that is essential but if you want an up + personal trip for Gannets just get the general bird cruise from North Berwick.
 
Andrew's suggestion of the Isle of May is a good one-it is a brilliant place to visit. The Scottish seabird centre at North Berwick does a trip to the Isle of May for £45 with 2 and a half hours on the island and it goes past the Bass Rock. You'll see zillions of gannets diving on the way.
The Sula does a bargain trip to the Bass Rock from North Berwick, not landing, for £14
 
Tom Lawson said:
If you are coming up from London you should detour to Bempton RSPB Reserve between Filey and Bridlington.Entrance is free if you are a RSPB member otherwise there is a small parking charge.There will be plenty of Gannets on the cliffs and you should get some amazingly close views if the birds are coming up onto the grass on the cliff top to collect nesting material. There are also close views of Guillemots and Razorbills.Don't expect much in the way of Puffins. The Farnes are much better for Puffins.You should also get stunning views of Guillemots,Razorbills,Shags,Eiders and terns here . Do the boat trip that lands you on both Staple Island and Inner Farne,in my view much better value than landing on the Bass Rock.However there are no Gannets on the Farnes. The Bass Rock is covered in Gannets so much so that if you do land you are restricted to a small area around the old chapel.The other seabird colony that is well worth a visit is St.Abb's Head,although no Gannets here either.
Tom Lawson.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that idea, but isn't that a large detour?
 
£125 seems an awful lot of money to see Gannets when there are other viewing alternatives identified above. However if you wish to visit the location that the gannet is named after, Morus Bassanus and where the late Dr Bryan Nelson did some of his early seabird research Bass Rock is essential. The choice is between a pilgrimage and value for money. If you do not own a copy of either the first or second edition of " The (Atlantic) Gannet" by Bryan Nelson I would take the cheaper viewing option and buy the book.
The ideal route to Bempton Cliffs from London is A1, M18,M62,A614 returning to the A1 via A170, probably adding about 2 hours to the journey time but an hour at Bempton will ensure plenty of gannets and sea birds.
I am facing a similar dilemma in June when my wife and I visit the Western Isles of Scotland including Harris. Do I take an even more expensive trip to St Kilda?
 
Robert Wallace said:
£125 seems an awful lot of money to see Gannets when there are other viewing alternatives identified above. However if you wish to visit the location that the gannet is named after, Morus Bassanus and where the late Dr Bryan Nelson did some of his early seabird research Bass Rock is essential. The choice is between a pilgrimage and value for money. If you do not own a copy of either the first or second edition of " The (Atlantic) Gannet" by Bryan Nelson I would take the cheaper viewing option and buy the book.
The ideal route to Bempton Cliffs from London is A1, M18,M62,A614 returning to the A1 via A170, probably adding about 2 hours to the journey time but an hour at Bempton will ensure plenty of gannets and sea birds.
I am facing a similar dilemma in June when my wife and I visit the Western Isles of Scotland including Harris. Do I take an even more expensive trip to St Kilda?
Click to expand...

YES. St.Kilda is a unique island.Although it has major colonies of seabirds,particularly Gannets,you go as much for the history and scenery as for the birds.Last year the day trips from Lewis were £180,but are very weather dependent.There are also day trips from Leverburgh in Harris.Bempton is probably the 'cheapest' place to come face to face with Gannets,and is free if you are a RSPB member.Otherwise its £5 a head.You will get full-frame photos of the birds on the cliffs,but not diving for fish unless you take one of the expensive specialised boat trips out of Bridlington.
TOM LAWSON.
 
"St.Kilda is a unique island" sorry to be a pedant but my understanding is that there is no such island but a group of islands. St Kilda is the name of the archipelago. The islands or islets are Hirta, Dun, Boreray and Soay and their associated stacs. However my O.S. map lables the largest and formerly inhabited island ST KILDA OR HIRTA, so take your pick. I have never been, but when holidaying on N. Uist could see them clearly on the horizon from our holiday accommodation near Paiblesgarry.
It's an early start to St Kilda from Leverburgh (7ish?) but we are staying in Tarbert. .
 
Robert Wallace said:
"St.Kilda is a unique island" sorry to be a pedant but my understanding is that there is no such island but a group of islands. St Kilda is the name of the archipelago. The islands or islets are Hirta, Dun, Boreray and Soay and their associated stacs. However my O.S. map lables the largest and formerly inhabited island ST KILDA OR HIRTA, so take your pick. I have never been, but when holidaying on N. Uist could see them clearly on the horizon from our holiday accommodation near Paiblesgarry.
It's an early start to St Kilda from Leverburgh (7ish?) but we are staying in Tarbert. .
Click to expand...

You are of course quite correct. St.Kilda is an archipelago,the presently inhabited island being Hirta. Most people when they refer to St.Kilda usually mean Hirta,and this is where you will land if you do a day trip.If the weather is at all reasonable the boatman will probably circle Boreray,Stac Lee and Stac An Armin which are close together but some 5 miles from Hirta.These latter three are where the Gannet colonies are.Incidently the St.Kilda Wren is very easy to see around Village Bay on Hirta.
Tom Lawson.
 
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