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!