Bass Rock is one of our larger islands and can be found a short distance off the East Lothian coast, just a couple of miles east of North Berwick. It is largely volcanic in origin. The high cliffs round most of the island are the remains of the solidified lava which formed a plug when the ancient volcano became dormant.

Over many centuries the island has had many uses – sometimes grazing for animals; sometimes as a retreat for monks; sometimes as a jail for political prisoners. Over the same timescale the seabirds have been harvested for food, killed for sport, and now they are protected.