TOWERS of stones and an island featuring in the works of Robert Louis Stevenson are among the attractions in a new television series tomorrow (Friday).

Comedian and TV presenter Susan Calman stopped off in Dunbar and North Berwick earlier this summer for the latest episode of Secret Scotland on Channel 5.

The latest leg of the show focuses on Falkirk and the Lothians, with a look at the European Stone Stacking Championships and Bass Rock.

James Craig Page is behind the stone stacking championships, which takes place in Dunbar each year and attracts people from throughout Europe.

He welcomed the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant and said: “She was very into the stone stacking and very complimentary.

“I believe she does meditation herself and she was able to link in with it and do it quite easily.

“It was a good response and she was very encouraging about the championships.

“I think we all have a future career in stone stacking if we give it enough time, patience and practice and she did very well for her first time.”

The 2020 European Stone Stacking Championship fell victim to the coronavirus earlier this year.

The event, which was originally launched as the John Muir Stone Stacking Challenge, was due to take place in the spring but there are now hopes it will return to Eye Cave Beach in 2021.

The annual competition offers a place at the World Stone Stacking Championships in America but Mr Page, who confirmed he would be sitting down tomorrow evening and watching the programme, said it was about more than that.

He said: “The benefits of stone stacking are reconnecting with nature on a deeper level and also finding balance within yourself as you are creating the sculptures.

“It brings a great deal of focus and attention.

“Hand-eye coordination is also a benefit from stone stacking and it is certainly good for your mental health and physical wellbeing.”

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Scottish Seabird Centre was also looking forward to the programme, which is screened from 8pm.

Calman, who has appeared on programmes such as QI and Armchair Detectives, visited Bass Rock in July.

The island, five kilometres off the coast of North Berwick, features in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Catriona and The Lion is Rampant by the Scottish novelist Ross Laidlaw.

Standing more than 100 metres tall, the Bass Rock is also home to a large colony of gannets.

The Seabird Centre spokeswoman said: “Susan went out with Maggie Sheddan, who is a very experienced tour guide.

“They went out on Braveheart and they went around Bass Rock and landed on it as well.

“Her main focus was on the gannets but also the history of the Bass Rock.”