Lunga Island Scotland Treshnish Isles
United Kingdom
11
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
Ponant (3 Cruises)
Frequently Asked Questions
Nowhere: no pier, no houses, no street lights. You come ashore by Zodiac or over a floating gangway laid on the rocks, after threading between the basalt islets of the Treshnish, west of the Isle of Mull. The landing feels like an expedition: you step over seaweed and pass bags hand to hand.
No. With no pier and no shelter, coming ashore depends entirely on the swell, and the captain decides on the morning itself. When the sea says no, cruising along the cliffs is still a fine spectacle from deck.
The path climbing to the grassy terraces, the puffin burrows right beside the track, then the half-hour walk south to Harp Rock. The ruins of the abandoned hamlet, near the landing point, take only a few minutes to explore.
Yes, and they are among the easiest to watch anywhere in Scotland. They nest in burrows dug along the path edges and land a few metres from anyone standing still, beaks loaded with silver fish. The rule is simple: stay on the paths, never approach a burrow, let the birds set the distance.
A rock stack separated from the island by a narrow channel, to the south, also known as Dun Cruit. Its vertical face carries a spectacular colony of guillemots packed shoulder to shoulder, mixed with razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars. The noise and constant movement make it one of the great natural spectacles of the Hebrides.
Yes. Near the landing point, collapsed stone walls mark an abandoned hamlet, left in the 19th century when the last families quit these overly isolated islands. A few minutes are enough to walk among the fern-covered ruins.
Frequently. Below Harp Rock, grey seals regularly show their round heads among the kelp. Nothing is guaranteed, but the waters around the Treshnish suit them well.
Closed, waterproof shoes with good grip. You step over slippery seaweed at the landing, then the paths climb over grassy slopes that are usually damp. A windproof layer completes the kit: there is no shelter anywhere on the island.
For children who walk well and can keep still, it is an unforgettable call: puffins a few metres away stay with you for life. The rocky landing and the cliff edges, however, demand constant supervision, and there are no facilities of any kind.
Late April to early August, when the puffins occupy the plateau and the Harp Rock colonies are full. After the breeding season the island loses its main attraction and landing becomes far less rewarding.
