At first glance, difficult to pin down what appears to be both natural and man-made. On a small Scottish island in the middle of the waters, this site is intriguing… Is it an ancient monument that has fallen into ruins? Is it a one-of-a-kind cave? We answer all the questions that tickle your mind at the sight of these images…
Summary
- An ever more surprising nature
- A story rich in twists and turns
- Go on an excursion to this breathtaking place
An ever more surprising nature
This mysterious cave is on the island of Staffa, west of Scotland in the Hebrides archipelago. Its amazing structure frequently attracts many people curious to see this little wonder with their own eyes. They also want to understand how this cave was formed and its history. Characterized by its size, shape and symmetry, this site is entirely made of basalt pillars with a height of about 20m. Imagine the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland, but even bigger and more impressive! But if Fingal is so special, it is also thanks to the sounds it emits, hence its nickname “musical cave”. Indeed, resulting from the meeting between the echo of the waves and the basalt organs of the cavity, they are astonishingly harmonious.
If we can observe such a spectacle today, it is thanks to a natural phenomenon that took place more than 60 million years ago. Legend has it that like the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland, this place is one of the final pieces of a bridge made by Irish giant Fionn Mac Cumhaill. In reality, these two sites are geologically linked since they most certainly appeared following the same lava flow.
A story rich in twists and turns
If this cave owes its fame to the famous composition “ The Hebrides” or “the Cave of Finga l” created between 1830 and 1831 by Felix Mendelssohn, its history dates back even longer. Its first conquest dates from 83 by the Roman Empire. Following this, many peoples passed the baton until it officially became British during the Act of Union (merger between the Kingdom of Scotland and the United Kingdom).
Go on an excursion to this breathtaking place
For several centuries now, the island of Staffa and Fingal’s musical cave have attracted many visitors. Among the best known, Queen Victoria, Lord Tennyson, Jules Verne, Robert Louis Stevenson and John Keats. To discover this island in your turn, it is better to go there outside peak periods to enjoy even more the magic of the cave. If you can, prefer the periods from March to May or from September to October. To visit this place, there are organized boat trips to the island for a duration of about half a day. With a bit of luck, you might even come across a few dolphins playing in the waves!
Article updated on 7 December 2022
