Staffa: Puffins + People
Protecting people and wildlife on Staffa through conservation forward land and visitor management.
The Hebridean island of Staffa is famous for its volcanic basalt columns and atmospheric Fingal’s Cave, but at just ½ mile long and ¼ mile wide it is also home to black guillemots, fulmars, and a migratory population of hundreds of puffins! Staffa was hardly known until 1772, when the botanist Joseph Banks highlighted the spectacular wild, natural beauty of the island. It soon became a must-see location and famous visitors have included Queen Victoria, Lord Tennyson, Jules Verne, Robert Louis Stevenson and John Keats.
This popularity comes with its own challenges, and today the delicate balance of biodiversity on Staffa is under threat. High visitation levels are causing unprecedented damage to the wildlife on the Island, and we expect that the volume of people visiting Staffa will continue to increase. We urgently need to improve infrastructure and visitor information to accommodate the growing interest in Staffa and ensure all who visit enjoy and learn to appreciate this wonderfully unique place. With your support, all who come to Staffa – humans and wildlife – will be protected and can thrive in harmony.
The National Trust for Scotland cares for much of the rugged wilderness, misty lochs, glacial glens, and heather-covered hillsides that make Scotland special. Our environment-focused projects are diverse and range from protecting biodiversity to providing safe access. Contact Kirstin Bridier at [email protected] to learn more about all our current environmental conservation projects.