Staffa is a small island just 6 nm northerly of Iona in the middle of the sea, yet it is quite famous and world known. Depending whom you ask you might get one or two answers why…
One answer is because it is a very interesting island in terms of geology (see later) and there is a breeding colony of puffins (those cute nice little birds…). The other is because the inspiration for the Hebrides Overture – Fingal’s Cave – was developed there (Fingal’s cave is on Staffa). A very nice recording can be found here: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcogD-hHEYs)
Approaching the island (the picture was actually done departing, but it doesn’t matter….) you can see the cave in the right side – the left cave is a smaller shaft.
The basaltic columns are just amazing
Very liquid lava was cooling down very fast
Creating marvellous formations
We had so little time to take it all in
Isn’t that amazing
Then, when you wander up the cliff you can find the puffins – they are so cute and friendly (actually nosy…). Normally there are far more people – this was just at the end of the visiting period.
A cute guy (girl?)
Usually they are in groups
Building, nesting, …
More close up
This one is just emerging from the burrow they are digging
And a close up
After some 2h we were heading back home to Iona and this is the other side of the strait – Fionnaphort
The sound of Iona
Our (together with the other community workers) garden with a view…
The ideal place for a barbeque
The view is amazing
A beautiful place to close the day!
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