How to Get to Staffa for Puffins?
In May 2024, I visited Scotland to see puffins. I spent hours researching how to get to Staffa – one of the several islands where it is possible to find puffins in Scotland. I found it overwhelming how many options there were, and I was getting confused about all the tour companies and ferries to the islands.
Therefore, after my day trip to Staffa, I wanted to write this article to help others plan a straightforward visit to Staffa. I used my experiences from my time in Oban, Isle of Mull and Staffa; plus my expertise as an ex-professional travel agent who planned detailed itineraries for clients for two years.
For my day trip from Oban to Staffa, I took the ferry to Mull (Craignure) with a rental car. Then, I booked a boat tour with Staffa Trips departing from Fionnphort on Isle of Mull.
While it was great to have the independence of a self-guided Staffa experience, there are certainly benefits to booking a tour.
For example, there is a lot of driving in a Staffa visit, so it is beneficial for all group members to rest and enjoy the scenery on the drive. Plus, your guide will know the best viewpoints and places to stop and have interesting facts about Isle of Mull and Staffa.
Visiting Staffa should be on your bucket-list along with seeing the Harry Potter train cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct and hiking around Isle of Skye.
If you are still looking for more content on Scotland to help plan your trip, discover when the best time to visit Isle of Skye is, and create a weekend itinerary for Skye.
I help you plan a long weekend trip in Scotland that includes Isle of Mull in this article.
How to See Puffins on Staffa by Car?
Follow these steps for a self-guided trip to Staffa in Scotland with your car or a rental car.
Note: you can take a car as far as one of the ports on Isle of Mull, but you will need to book a boat tour to get to the actual island of Staffa, where the puffins are.
1. Travel to the Isle of Mull
There are two main routes to Mull, depending on your starting point.
From Oban: Take a ferry from Oban to Craignure on Mull, operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac). This route is the most common route to get to Mull.
From Lochaline: If you are travelling from the northern Highlands or places like Fort William, you can take a ferry from Lochaline to Fishnish on Mull, also operated by CalMac.
Book your ferry tickets online in advance as they do sell out. After picking up your rental car, call the ferry company to confirm the license plate and size.
2. Drive Across Mull
There are two ports that you can take boat tours from to reach Staffa.
To Fionnphort
If you have booked an excursion with Staffa Tours and Staffa Trips, once on Mull, drive to Fionnphort, a common departure point for boat tours to Staffa. It is about a 1-hour 10-minute drive from Craignure and a little further from Fishnish.
To Ulva
If you have booked a tour with Turus Mara, you should travel to Ulva ferry terminal, which will take around 45 minutes from Craignure or Tobermory, and a little over 30 minutes from Fishnish.
Note: Fionnphort is pronounced fee-on-fort.
The drive from Craignure to Fionnphort is on a single-track road. Allow longer than Google Maps estimates because you must stop many times to let cars pass.
Locals suggest the drive from Criagnure to Fionnphor was 1 hour and 10 minutes, but you may want to stop at some of the beautiful viewpoints en route. On our journey from Craignure to Fionnphort, we took closer to 2 hours because we stopped to take photos at our leisure and stretch our legs.
3. Boat to Staffa
Take your chosen boat tour from Fionnphort or Ulva. Some tours to Staffa also include a stop at Iona, a nearby island reached by ferry.
The tour may make a quick stop at Iona to pick up passengers or allow time for you to explore the island. You can book a one-way ferry ticket to or from Iona and use the Iona drop-off offered by your boat tour for the opposite direction.
Find out what to expect on a tour to Staffa here.
How to See Puffins on Staffa with a Tour?
This section will inform you about the various Staffa puffin tours available and the differences between each company.
Staffa Trips
- Departure Points: From Fionnphort or Iona
- Tour Highlights: Staffa Trips offers one type of tour that goes from Iona or Fionnphort to Staffa and lasts around 3 hours. You have around 1 hour and 10 minutes on Staffa to see the puffins and Fingal’s Cave.
We booked our excursion with Staffa Trips, and it was well-organised, and the staff were knowledgeable and friendly. The permitted 1 hour and 10 minutes on Staffa went quickly, but it was just enough time to see the puffins and the cave. Our guide gave us great advice on seeing the puffins.
We were provided with yellow raincoats to wear given that the journey to Staffa was going to have a lot of spray. Find out what else to wear when visiting Scotland.
Dogs are allowed on board with Staffa Trips, but up to a maximum of 2 per party.
Read more about my experience with Staffa Trips on a tour in this article.
Staffa Tours (and West Coast Tours)
- Departure Points: From Oban or Mull (Fionnphort/Iona and Tobermory)
- Tour Highlights: Staffa Tours offers a wide range of tours that include Staffa and other destinations (such as Tobermory and Lunga) with longer length tours as 12 hours.
If you prefer not to drive or want a guided experience, you can book a tour to Staffa with one of the operators that arrange tours to Staffa from Oban, such as Staffa Tours and West Coast Tours.
Staffa Tours uses West Coast Motors to operate their land transportation with coaches. Similarly, if you book an excursion with West Coast Tours, the boat tour portion will be operated by Staffa Tours.
The benefit of booking an excursion with Staffa Tours or West Coast Tours is that you can see Mull and Staffa in one day, and it means no one in your group needs to drive since it is a long day.
Dogs are allowed on Staffa Tours boat tours, but dogs must stay away from the puffins. However, they likely will not be permitted on a West Coast Motors coach.
Turus Mara
- Departure Points: From Ulva Ferry Terminal
- Tour Highlights: Turus Mara offer tours to Staffa, Lunga, Ulva and Treshnish Isles, with a varying amount of time on the islands to look at the puffins.
Ulva ferry terminal is closer to Tobermory than Fionnphort, so it may be worth booking this tour if you are coming from that direction.
Note: if you are considering a tour with Turus Mara, the tours start from the ferry terminal to Ulva, located on the Isle of Mull. You do not have to take the ferry to Ulva to start the tour, which confused me when arranging my visit to Staffa.
If you are staying in Oban, you can pick the tour with Turus Mara called Treshnish Isles and Staffa Wildlife Tour from Oban and you will take the CalMac ferry to Staffa. It followed similar timings to what I planned for our self-drive itinerary to Staffa.
However, if you book with Turus Mara, you will not experience the drive towards Fionnphort around Loch Beg, which is spectacular. Even so, the Isle of Mull is breathtaking, meaning you will see other beautiful parts of the island.
Dogs are not allowed on trips with Turus Mara.
Rabbies
- Departure Points: From Edinburgh and Glasgow
- Tour Type: Offers multi-day tours including tours to Isle of Mull, Isle of Skye, and the Highlands.
Several people on our Staffa boat tour were booked on the Rabbies tour doing the 3-day tour to Mull and Iona. You can book the boat tour to Staffa as an additional add-on and pay for the tour in cash or card while on the trip.
The Rabbies tour group age ranged from around 30 to 65 years old. The tour guide looked very involved and friendly, and he was sharing additional stories with his group members.
Check out all the other Rabbies tours that include Isle of Mull here.
What is the Difference Between Staffa Tours and Staffa Trips?
It is confusing that two companies sell tours to Staffa with similar names: Staffa Tours and Staffa Trips.
The main difference is that Staffa Tours offers boat tours that start from Oban and Mull, meaning that Staffa Tours include some land transportation in their excursion.
Whereas all the Staffa Trips excursions start on Iona or Fionnphort on Mull and only include the water element of the tours.
Additionally, Staffa Tours offers a wide range of tours that include other locations such as Tobermory and Lunga, and many of the tours are longer with durations of up to 10 or 12 hours long. Whereas Staffa Trips only offers a 3-hour tour to Staffa.
Summary: How to Get from Oban to Staffa on a Tour?
Book with Staffa Tours or West Coast Tours for a tour from Oban to Staffa. The tour starts with a CalMac ferry ride from Oban to Craignure on the Isle of Mull.
From Craignure, a coach will take you to Fionnphort where you board a boat to Staffa. You will have around 1 hour and 10 minutes on Staffa before returning to Oban via the same route.
Summary: How to Get to Staffa by Boat?
You have several options to get to Staffa by boat from the Isle of Mull. Book a tour with Staffa Trips, departing from Fionnphort or Iona, or with Staffa Tours, departing from Fionnphort, Iona, or Tobermory.
Alternatively, Turus Mara offers tours departing from Ulva Ferry Terminal on Mull.
Conclusion: Which is Better? Tour or Self-Drive to Puffins in Staffa?
I considered booking a tour to get insights from the guide, but we wanted a little more freedom, so we did ours by booking the ferry and guide separately. However, on reflection, it was too much driving in one day when we had driven a lot the day before.
Therefore, if I were to do it again, I would book a day tour so we could rest on the journey and let the driver guide do the hard work. Additionally, the guide knows where the best viewpoint stops are, so you do not need to worry about having free time to take photos.
Finally, when you are on a guided tour, you can leave the organisation to your tour guide, and your only job is to enjoy the trip. On a self-guided trip to Staffa, we had to monitor the time for the ferries and excursions. But if you have a tour leader, they can take that responsibility off your hands.
