What to Expect When Visiting the Staffa Puffins in Scotland?
Staffa is best known for its basalt columns and Fingal’s Cave. The island is also home to many seabirds, including puffins, who nest on the island and in the surrounding waters.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to finding the Staffa puffins based on my firsthand knowledge from my visit to the Isle of Mull, travelling from Oban by ferry and rental car.
I learnt a lot about puffins during my trip to Staffa Island from the guide onboard the Staffa boat tour and the leaflets provided, which is where the information I share in this article comes from.
Read on to learn the best time to visit Staffa, how and where to find the puffins, and what to bring on a boat tour to Staffa.
When is Puffin Season on the Isle of Staffa?
If you want to see puffins on the Isle of Staffa, the best time to visit is from April to early August. The peak season for puffin sightings is from May to mid-July when the birds come to the island to breed and nest (it is their breeding season).
In March and April, puffins arrive on Staffa to nest. Each puffin couple will lay one egg. In May and June, the puffin chicks will hatch. The puffin parents will care for their chicks in the nests in July. Finally – in early August, the parent puffins will leave the nest, and the chicks will follow a few days later.
If you want to see even more puffins during your visit to Scotland, you can also visit the isle of Lunga, one of the Treshnish Isles. Some tours include Staffa and Lunga, so you can combine them.
One of the best times to visit Isle of Skye is in May, so you could easily combine it with Isle of Mull.
When is the Best Time to Visit Staffa for Puffin Watching?
Your chances of seeing puffins on Staffa are high when visiting between May and July, and you are almost guaranteed to see some during this period.
However, if the water is too choppy to land the boat, you cannot go ashore at Staffa, nor get up close with the puffins. Nevertheless, you may still see them from the boat.
For example, when we visited Staffa in mid-May, we saw some puffins flying around the boat as we stopped in front of Fingal’s Cave, and then we saw a huge group of puffins on the water as we approached the dock.
Where is Isle of Staffa in Scotland?
Staffa is a small, uninhabited island located off the west coast of Scotland. It is one of the islands that make up the Inner Hebrides archipelago.
Staffa is approximately 10 km (6 miles) west of the Isle of Mull (one of the larger islands in the Inner Hebrides). Mull is off the western coast of mainland Scotland, near the town of Oban.
How to Get to Isle of Staffa?
There are numerous options to get from mainland Scotland to Staffa, but the most common route is to take a ferry from Oban to Isle of Mull and then drive across Mull to Fionnphort to take a boat tour from Staffa Trips or Staffa Tours.
We took the route from Oban to Craignure by ferry and then to Fionnphort for a Staffa Trips excursion. It requires some planning to select the correct ferry and tour times. Additionally, it involves a moderate amount of driving. Therefore, you should consider if booking a tour from Oban is a better option.
If you want to learn more about self-driving or taking a land and boat tour, see my article on how to get to the Isle of Staffa.
Other tour companies to consider include, Turus Mara and West Coast Tours.
What to Expect on a Puffin Boat Tour to Staffa?
On a puffin boat tour to Staffa, you can expect the chance to get up close with the famous Staffa puffins.
Before you set off, you will be given bright yellow fishermen’s coats if you are seated on the uncovered back deck, as the spray from the waves can get you wet. These coats are knee-length with hoods, so you stay as dry as possible. However, your bag may get wet, so you may wish to store it in the covered area of the boat.
Look out for other wildlife on the boat ride to Staffa, including seals, dolphins, seabirds, and whales.
The boat driver will pause the boat in front of Fingal’s Cave to allow you to see it from the water. The driver will typically turn the boat so that passengers on both sides get a good view.
Disembarking at the dock involves climbing steep steps that resemble a ladder. While this may feel daunting and make your legs wobbly (like it did for me), the steps are short, so it should not deter you from booking the tour if you are anxious about it.
Once on Staffa, you will have about 1 hour and 10 minutes to explore, and it is enough time to observe the puffins and visit the cave.
One important note is that there are no bathroom facilities on Staffa. However, there are public toilets available at the ferry port in Fionnphort. The entrance to these facilities has turnstiles, but during our visit, no one was operating the gates, so you might be able to access them without paying.
How Far is the Walk to the Puffins on Staffa Boat Tour?
The walk to the puffins on the Staffa boat tour is approximately 10 minutes.
Upon disembarking, you must climb a steep staircase and then turn right. Follow the well-trodden path until you reach a pink buoy on the grass.
This short walk is manageable for most visitors and leads you directly to the prime puffin-watching area.
Read about more great walks in Scotland here.
Where to Spot Puffins on Staffa?
To spot puffins on Staffa, head to the area near the pink buoy on the grass. It is easily accessible by following the path after the steep staircase.
A ranger is often stationed on the island to help you locate the puffins and provide information about these charming birds. Otherwise, your guide on the boat will provide detailed instructions to ensure you head in the right direction.
Our guide offered great advice, such as staying at the puffins’ usual spot if you cannot immediately see them, as this is the most reliable location to see them rather than searching elsewhere.
The puffins typically arrive in a large group and start flying around in circles before settling on the grass right in front of you. You can get very close to the puffins, but it is still difficult to take photos on a phone and is much better with a professional camera.
In my opinion, it is best to go to the puffins first, as it is a thrill watching them arrive slowly. Then, you can spend as much time as you need with the puffins. Make sure to leave 25 minutes before you need to be back on the boat to look at Fingal’s Cave.
What to Know About Visiting Fingal’s Cave
Fingal’s Cave involves a 5-minute walk from the dock. You still need to be able to climb some of the steep staircases. So, if you have elderly or immobile visitors, they may prefer to stay on the boat rather than come aboard. The boat driver will be happy to take anyone still on the boat around Staffa.
While the path to Fingal’s Cave looks intimidating from the boat, it is safe and has a paint coating on the rocks for better grip and a handrail along the entire way. The path is also wider than it appears from a distance.
You only need about 10 minutes for the round trip, plus less than 5 minutes for the self-guided Fingal’s Cave tour. Try to visit when there are fewer people on the path to avoid constantly stepping aside for others walking in the opposite direction.
What to Know When Visiting Staffa with Dogs?
It is allowed to bring dogs on the boat tour, but I would not recommend it unless your dog travels well on boats.
You can get very wet on the way out, unless seated in the covered area, and the boat ride is very bumpy, which may not be enjoyable for them. The dogs will need to be lifted out of the boat at embarkation and disembarkation, and it is a challenging landing.
Plus, you are not allowed to bring dogs near the puffin colony, and the paths up from the dock and to Fingal’s Cave are precarious. So, your dog will not be able to see much of the island, and someone in your group will have to stay with them while you explore.
However, it is an option if you want to see the puffins and are taking your dog to Scotland. You will need to take it in turns to see the puffins and be quick so you can swap with enough time to see Fingal’s Cave too.
Not all tour companies allow dogs, so check on their website before booking.
What to Wear and Pack for a Staffa Puffin Tour?
Even though it was mild on the Isle of Mull, we were worried we would be cold while on the boat and island. Luckily, the additional raincoats we were given gave an extra layer of warmth and water protection.
I would suggest bringing a warm jacket to wear on the boat.
Wear quick-drying trousers, such as leggings or hiking trousers (try Arcteryx, Columbia or Lululemon). Jeans will likely get wet on the boat crossing and stay wet the rest of the day.
The same for your footwear – it is best to wear water-resistant hiking shoes that will not get ruined or waterlogged when the water splashes onto the boat. (These are the hiking shoes I wore in Scotland and they were great).
The seas can be rough when travelling to or from Staffa, so if you get prone to seasickness, you should take non-drowsy seasickness medication and anti-sickness Sea-Bands to help you. (The jury is out to if the Sea Bands work, but worth a try if you struggle). You must take non-drowsy seasickness tablets, especially if you are driving, but also because you do not want to sleep through the excursion and miss the puffins.
You can bring binoculars to get a closer glimpse of the puffins. However, you will get within a few metres of them, so they are unnecessary if you do not own them. Bring a professional camera with a good zoom to capture the best pictures. The ones I took on my phone are nowhere near as good as the ones Lucas took on his camera.
Pack some water and snacks in a backpack because there are no refreshments provided on the boat (although there may be an honesty box on your boat where you can buy some crisps). There are no shops (or any buildings) on Staffa.
I had some sweets I had bought from a convenience store at Craignure and they were such a welcome treat on the journey back from Staffa.
Make sure you bring a phone charger per person. We were sharing one wire in the car, and both of our phones almost ran out of battery. Particularly if you are on a group tour, you should ensure you have a portable charger. You do not want your phone to run out of battery before you get to the puffins.
Find out what I recommend packing in general for a trip to Scotland.
How to Include Isle of Staffa Puffins in Scotland Itinerary?
You need to decide if you would like to visit the island of Staffa as a day trip or as part of an overnight stay on Isle of Mull. It is easy to include Staffa in a long weekend trip in Scotland from Edinburgh.
If you decide you want to visit Staffa in one day, you should consider booking a day tour from Oban. There are several reasons why it is better to book a guided wildlife tour to Staffa than self-drive, but the main one is that it involves a lot of driving in one day. The long drive can be bothersome if you are already taking part in an extensive road trip around Scotland.
Otherwise, you could stay overnight on Isle of Mull. Most of the accommodation is in Tobermory, so you should book a tour starting from Tobermory (discover which tours depart from here in my article on getting to Staffa), or you can drive across from Tobermory to Fionnphort or Ulva ferry terminal.
Isle of Mull and Staffa make great additions to itineraries with Glencoe, Oban, Isle of Skye or Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Discover my recommended 10-day itinerary for another route with these destinations.
If you want to find a ready-made itinerary, you can book a Rabbies group tour. There is a selection of tours that include a stop on Isle of Mull and the option to do a Staffa boat tour.
- 5 Day Tour of Iona, Mull & the Isle of Skye (From Edinburgh)
- 9 Day Tour of Iona, Mull, Skye & Orkney (From Edinburgh)
- 4 Day Tour of Mull, Isle of Iona & West Highlands (From Edinburgh)
- 3 Day Tour of Mull & Iona (From Glasgow)
- 8 Day Tour of Islay, Iona, Mull & Skye (From Edinburgh)
History of the Isle of Staffa, Scotland
The Isle of Staffa is an uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland and has a geological history dating back millions of years. Around 60 million years ago, when the continents of Scotland and North America were drifting apart, massive lava flows cooled to form the island’s hexagonal basalt columns.
For thousands of years, these formations, including Fingal’s Cave, were regarded as sacred and magical by the locals. Legend has it that the columns were part of a causeway built by a Gaelic giant connecting Scotland and Ireland.
In the following centuries, Vikings visited the island and were equally amazed by its natural wonders. The island got its name from an Old Norse word “Staffa”, which means wooden building staves (vertical posts).
Some sources say that people and their livestock spent time on Staffa in the late 18th century, with evidence of stone structures, but it is unclear if they stayed on Staffa all year round. It was assumed that their presence on Staffa was due to land shortages on the nearby Isle of Mull.
Notable visitors to Staffa included Queen Victoria and writers Robert Louis Stevenson and Walter Scott. Felix Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture was inspired by the sounds of waves at Fingal’s Cave during his 1829 visit.
In 1986, John Elliott, the private owner of Staffa, gifted the island to the National Trust for Scotland to honour his wife Eleanor’s 60th birthday. The National Trust continues to own and manage the island, which was designated a National Nature Reserve in 2001 to protect its natural heritage.
How to Find the Isle of Mull Puffins?
To find puffins, take a short boat ride from the Isle of Mull to Staffa, where you will find a large colony of puffins. There are no puffins on Mull.
