The Bass Rock is in the mouth of the Firth of Forth, about one mile offshore and three miles from North Berwick. For a short period (nn the late 17th Century) it was a penal colony. It now contains one of the worlds largest colonies of northern gannets.

When I visited there in 2011 and in 2012 I had not set foot on it for over 50 years. The difference was staggering. Then, you could walk almost anywhere. Now gannets occupy almost the entire surface and we are barely tolerated by them.

I was visting the rock with a small group of photographers; we had all won prizes at a local photography competition and the opprtunity was not to be missed.