Escape the everyday! If you wish to change your preferences, you may do so on our, Volcanic rock columns are home to black guillemots, fulmars, puffins and the magical Fingal’s Cave. They choose to nest at the tops of steep cliffs of inaccessible islands – it’s because of this that puffins are often times so difficult to … Staffa came into the care of the National Trust for Scotland in 1986, a gift from John Elliott, Jr, of New York in honour of his wife Elly’s birthday. Staffa was designated a National Nature Reserve in 2001.

See the famous hexagonal rock columns, formed millions of years ago by volcanic eruptions. Find a place to visit near you. Otherwise, please close this box and read on! We often see guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, shearwaters gannets, great skuas and other birds from the boat. However, the amazingly shaped Fingal's Cave is considered an even more popular attraction. Using this tool will set a cookie on your device to remember your preferences. I took the Three Isles tour out of Oban and the stretch from Iona to Staffa was done on a Staffa Tour boat. This little island (½ mile long and ¼ mile wide) off the west coast of Scotland looks like it may be from a different planet. We'd also like to set optional analytics cookies to help us improve it. Over the years it has captivated thousands of people including Johnson & Boswell, Queen Victoria, Robert Louis Stevenson, Walter Scott, Jules Verne and Joseph Banks.Fingal’s Cave is always splendid and atmospheric with its basalt columns formed during a period of volcanic activity 59 million years ago.Puffins can be seen ashore in season as well as shags, oystercatchers and black guillemots. Island of Staffa is good for puffins Most importantly, though you may hear puffins give a kind of deep yet nervous laugh, this does not give them a sense of humour. I enjoyed the passage to the island, but my sister felt a little uncomfortable with the speed and size of the boat. Over the years it has captivated thousands of people including Johnson & Boswell, Queen Victoria, Robert Louis Stevenson, Walter Scott, Jules Verne and Joseph Banks.Fingal’s Cave is always splendid and atmospheric with its basalt columns formed during a period of volcanic activity 59 million years ago. The area in which we operate is home to a wide variety of seabirds including Cormorants, Shags, Guillemots, Razorbills, and Shearwaters. Peter offers a brief explanation of Staffa’s geology, looking at volcanic activity, the famous columnar basalts and the great caves. Staffa is famous for its population of cute puffins inhabiting the north of the island.

Pulling up on the boat was incredible. While the puffins are on Staffa Island, it in itself is its own special destination. Our day trip started with a ferry from Oban to Craignure on the Isle of Mull which takes about an hour.

Famous visitors have included Queen Victoria, Lord Tennyson, Jules Verne, Robert Louis Stevenson and John Keats; all fell under the island’s spell. Follow in the footsteps of Queen Victoria, J M W Turner, Sir Walter Scott and William Wordsworth.

They can often be seen ashore at close quarters during May, June and July. We did a little lap, and it was awe-inspiring. ..Recommend to wear trainers as def need good footwear on the terrain. GOOD NEWS! Staffa Trips’ boat, Iolaire of Iona is a beautiful wooden boat, purpose built to take visitors to Staffa. Book online now by clicking the button belowIf you’re enquiring within 1 hour of departure, or would rather speak to a member of staff, please telephone to check last minute availability or have a query answered. Capacity – Our capacity will be reduced to allow customers more space on the boat to increase social distancing. I was sat in one of the outside seats on a small boat heading towards Fingal’s Cave on Staffa Island, sea air flowing over my bald head, eyes fixed firmly overboard, scanning the speeding sea.

It soon became a must-see location. The trip to Staffa amazes with wildlife encounters, puffin colonies, and the geometric shapes of Fingal's Cave.

We often see guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, shearwaters gannets, great skuas and other birds from the boat.If you’re lucky, you might see a passing otter, porpoise, dolphin, basking shark or whale!The trip lasts approximately three hours and you can disembark at Fionnphort or Iona.Staffa Trips leave Iona and Fionnphort twice daily (1st April-late October) and we aim to give you at least 1 hour ashore.

Great excursion with Staffa tours, would go again. The cruise boats set off to Staffa from two south-western points on the Isle of Mull—Iona and Fionnphort. Fingal’s Cave – Falling in love with Puffins on Staffa Island 9th Jul 2020 by Tim Tunnicliff. Puffins are a common sight on Staffa in summer. Staffa was hardly known until 1772, when the botanist Joseph Banks highlighted the wild, natural beauty of the island. Years of waves crashing against these columns created the magnificent Fingal’s Cave. Its hexagonal basalt pillars produce an impression of being carved by sculptors.