Episode 99: ‘Island Hopping’ – An Adventure to Iona, Staffa and Treshnish Isles
How many islands can you visit in one day? Turns out, quite a few! The islands surrounding the Isle of Mull make for great island hopping on the west coast.
“Island Hopping” tells the story of a day trip by boat to visit the Isles of Iona, Staffa and the Treshnish Isles – all from our home base on the Isle of Mull. That’s 4 islands in one day!
We explore the medieval ruins and moorlands of Iona, enjoy (more or less) a thrilling boat ride to the Isle of Lunga to meet puffins, and walk in the footsteps of giants as we stride across the Isle of Staffa.
After the story, I share with you my top tips for a trip to Iona, Staffa and the Treshnish Isles.
This is a re-do of the very first Wild for Scotland episode from 2021 including new elements in the story, brand-new sound design by Fran Turauskis and some updates on the survival of Scotland’s seabird colonies…
Disclaimer: All information provided in this podcast is based on personal travel experiences. Companies mentioned in the story or tips were active at the time of release. If you listen to episodes at a later point, note that this information may have changed in the meantime.
Resources
Read my blog post about this tour from the Isle of Mull
Find out more about puffins from the Scottish Wildlife Trust or the RSPB
Book a tour:
- Staffa Tours from Fionnphort (Mull) or Iona
- Staffa Tours from Tobermory (Mull) or Kilchoan
- Turus Mara from Ulva Ferry (Mull)
- Staffa Tours from Oban
- Tiree Sea Tours from the Isle of Tiree
Learn about Staffa from the National Trust for Scotland
Here is Graeme’s version of The Legend of Fingal’s Cave
Read Madeleine Bunting’s book I mentioned: Love of Country
5 Tips for a Trip to Iona, Staffa & the Treshnish Isles
1) Book the right boat trip
Since we stayed on the Isle of Mull overnight, we booked a boat trip that left from Fionnphort. The Staffa and Treshnish Isles Wildlife Tour with Staffa Tours includes a landing on Lunga for just over 2 hours and about an hour on Staffa. The way the departure time works out, you could spend some time in Iona before or after boarding.
Another option is to join a boat trip with Staffa Tours from Tobermory, or to go with Turus Mara whose trips leave from Ulva Ferry on Mull’s west coast.
If you’re staying in Oban, you can also book a tour with Staffa Tours, but that is a long day on tour. It includes the Calmac ferry to Mull and the bus journey across the island to Fionnphort.
A few years ago, I visited Lunga again – this time from the Isle of Coll. Tiree Sea Tours offers tours to the Treshnish Isles from Tiree (and possibly from Coll for a surcharge).
2) Choose the best time to visit
The best time for a wildlife trip to the Treshnish Isles is early May to mid July. The puffins arrive on the island towards the end of April to breed and leave by late July or early August. They spend the rest of the year at sea, so you won’t get a chance to see them up close outside of their breeding season.
It’s still worth visiting Iona and Staffa outside of this time frame, but those tours usually don’t even land on the Treshnish Isles because there is not much else to see.
3) Avoid the crowds on Staffa
While we had Lunga to ourselves, Staffa felt much more crowded on the day we visited. The island is a very popular destination for day trips from Mull and Oban, and while the visitor numbers are managed, the narrow sea cave, particularly, can feel a little crowded. I recommend taking your time on the path to the cave to fall back and let others visit first. By the time you get there, they will have had their fill and start heading up the cliffs
Alternatively, you could also climb the cliffs first and time your walk to the cave between the arrival of new boats.
4) Be prepared to deal with seasickness
It’s never fun being seasick, but it might be something you have to put up with when island hopping on the west coast of Scotland. The most important thing to keep in mind is to focus on the horizon and, if possible, stay outside in the fresh air. Common remedies include foods containing ginger or eating a green apple. Some people swear by wrist bands with beads that press certain pressure points on your wrist.
If all else fails, you could reach for seasickness pills, but they might make you feel drowsy, so it’s best to find a brand you body can cope with.
5) Stay on Mull or Iona for a few nights
As I mentioned, it is possible to visit Iona, Staffa and the Treshnish Isles on a day trip from Oban. But I do recommend spending a few days on the Isle of Mull or even on Iona, to maximise the time you can spend on the islands. There is a lot more to do and see here. If you’re looking for more inspiration check out my Isle of Mull travel guides which I’ll link to in the full show notes of this episode on our website.
