Staffa means "Pillar Island",
which only begins to describe the breathtaking formations
of columnar basalt. It is an island of caves, of which
the best known is Fingal's Cave, a full 227 ft (69 m)
deep and 66 ft (20 m) high.
One name for Staffa meant "melodious Cave"
in deference to the echoing waves and the sound of the
gulls. Most visitors will know Mendelssohn's overture
Fingal's Cave, also known as The Hebrides, which he
composed in 1829 after a visit to the island. Queen
Victoria and Prince Albert landed on Staffa in 1847,
the queen recording the visit in her diary. Other visitors
include Sir Walter Scott, Keats, Wordsworth and the
artist Turner, who in 1832 exhibited his Staffa: Fingal's
Cave at the Royal Academy. It was sold to a buyer in
the United States.
You will be met today at the ship’s anchor point
in the Sound of Iona by one of the local ferries that
will tender you to nearby Staffa. Staff on board the
ferry will introduce you to the glorious nature and
natural wonders of Staffa. Enjoy some free time here,
particularly in Fingal’s cave, before returning
to your ship.
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