Spectacular caves and rocks of the island of Staffa

The island of Staffa in Scotland is probably best known for its unique geological features, such as the many caves and the unique shape of the basalt columns, which are also found in the Giant's Causeway. This remarkable little island, located south-west off the Isle of Ulva and halfway between the Ross of Mull and the Treshnish Isles, is one of the smallest in the Southern Hebrides.

On the east coast of Staffa are the Goat Cave and the Clamshell Cave. The latter is 10 m high, about 6 m wide at the entrance, some 45 m long, and on one side of it, the ridges of basalt stand out like the ribs of a ship. On the southwest shore are the Boat Cave and the Mackinnon’s Cave, which has a tunnel connecting it to the Cormorant Cave. Staffa's most famous feature is the Fingal's Cave—a large sea cave located near the southern tip of the island, some 20 m high and 75 m long formed in the cliffs of the hexagonal basalt columns.

The island was once inhabited in the 1700s by as many as 16 people but nowadays seabirds and tourists have taken over their place. The island gained prominence in the late 18th century after a visit by Sir Joseph Banks. He and his fellow travellers were spellbound by the natural beauty of the basalt columns and by the island's main sea cavern that Banks renamed as the 'Fingal's Cave'. Their visit was followed by that of many other prominent personalities over the next two centuries, including Sir Walter Scott, William Wordsworth, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Jules Verne and Dr David Livingstone, to name a few.