Sea Kayaking Bass Rock - July 2024

Sited in the Firth of Forth, rising 107 metres above sea level, Bass Rock could easily be mistaken for an iceberg from a distance. In fact, this immense chunk of carboniferous rock is given its white glaze by the thousands of gannets – 150,000 in the peak breeding season – that nest there. Unsurprisingly, Bass Rock is home to the largest gannet colony in the world, earning it Sir David Attenborough’s claim to be one of the ‘wildlife wonders of the world’.

Over time, this volcanic crag, protected by the waters of the firth, has served many purposes. In the seventh century, it was a Christian retreat and home to St Baldred of Tyninghame, the ‘Apostle of the Lothians’. Sometime after 1058, the Lauder family established a castle on the rock, which later offered protection to James, son of Robert III. Bass Rock also has a strong history as a prison and played a key strategic role in control of the Firth of Forth.

Today, Bass Rock is uninhabited, except for its many feathered residents! With jagged rocks that are beaten by the waves in stormy weather, the ruins of an ancient chapel, and the remains of the castle, the site has a distinctly wild and forsaken atmosphere – the obvious contrast being the charming lighthouse that was erected in 1902 on the site of the castle keep.

Music:

All music licensed by Artlist: https://artlist.io/

Turning Point by Alon Peretz - https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music...

Textures by Okaya - https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music...

Embraced by Simon Wester - https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music...

Cameras Used:

Canon EOS R7 with:
Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | Art
Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

DJI Osmo Action 3

DJI Mavic Pro 2 Drone