NTS Places to visit - Staffa National Nature Reserve

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Staffa National Nature ReserveNature Reserve

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About this property
Staffa is the stuff of legend – an unspoilt and uninhabited island of 32 hectares best known for its magnificent basalt columns and spectacular sea caves.

The most famous of these is Fingal’s Cave, also known as An Uamh Binn (Cave of Melody). It has a unique, cathedral-like structure and its hexagonal columns are similar to those of the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland.

Fingal’s Cave was immortalised by Mendelssohn in his Hebrides Overture, after he visited the island in 1829, and in a famous painting by the artist J M W Turner. Staffa has received many other well-known visitors including Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Did you know?

In 2012 a new cairn was unveiled on the island. The cairn was sculpted by Colin MacDougall of Iona from recycled slates. These have been cut and stacked to look like the island’s basalt columns.