Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site

You are not logged in. Log in

Geocaching Home > Seek > View Cache Details

GC16BTQ

Earthcache Fingal's Cave (Staffa)
A  cache by chizu       Hidden: 10/1/2007  
Size: Size: Not chosen (Not chosen)      Difficulty: 1 out of 5      Terrain: 2 out of 5 (1 is easiest, 5 is hardest)

You must be logged in with an account to view the detailed Location Information. It's free!

N/S ? ??.??? W/E ??? ??.???  []
In Northern Scotland, United Kingdom

Print:
[5 Logs] [10 Logs] |
Download: [Read About Waypoint Downloads]
| | |


Please note: To use the services of geocaching.com, you must agree to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

This is an Earthcache located on the island of Staffa, approximately 6 miles (9 kilometres) north of Iona on the west coast of Scotland.

'Fingal's Cave' on the Isle of Staffa is internationally famous, having been the inspiration for musicians, artists, poets and writers for many years. Sea swells racing into Fingal's Cave and cascading down basalt steps create rhythmic, eerie music made famous by composer Felix Mendelssohn. The columnar basalt formations evident on Staffa emerged as lava flows some 60 million years ago. The island's name came from the Viking or Norse word for building stave, column or pillar. The island and cave was brought to the attention of the scientific world by Sir Joseph Banks (1743 - 1820) who was on route to Iceland on a natural history trip. In his writings he compares the island's appearances to lava, and it should be noted that this came before Hutton's 'Theory of the Earth'. The island is composed of columnar basalt and overlying 'slaggy' basalt, erupted as lava flows from the Teritary Mull volcanic centre, and it is basalt pillars that form the spectacular entrance to the cave itself.

Once lava erupted from fissures in this vast volcanic field and spread across the landscape, travelling several kilometres from the source. Although the columns within the basalt may look like colossal crystals, they developed after the lava solidified. As the rock cooled and contracted, cracks formed in the most efficient pattern - hexagonal from the bird's-eye view. The resulting columns vary from one to three meters across but appear remarkably uniform. Because the cracks grew perpendicular to the cooling surface, the columns tend to be vertical.

To claim this cache, please post a photograph of yourself at Fingal's Cave cave with your GPSr. In addition, email me your estimate of the height, width and depth of the cave. Please do not go beyond the barrier in the cave.

Details of boat trips to the island can be found here. Alternatively, private boats can moor at the published coordinates.

Kind permission for this cache has been granted by The National Trust for Scotland.


Additional Hints ( No hints available ) 

(Decrypted Hints)




Find...


boat to Staffa

Plaque on the island

Staffa and Fingal's Cave

 Navigation
 log in to log your visit
 log in to watch listing
 view gallery


1 user(s) watching this cache.

 Attributes
no public restrooms no camping not 24-7 scenic view public transit available boat required
What are Attributes?



 Inventory

What are Trackable Items?

 Bookmark Lists
Earth Cache UK lisings by fraggle69
Earth Caches: Updated 12/11/2009 by angellica
British 'Small(ish) Coastal Island' Caches by Simply Paul

View all 3 bookmark lists...


 

Logged Visits ( 36 total. Visit the Gallery (61 images) )

Found it33Didn't find it1Write note1Publish Listing1

Warning. Spoilers may be included in the descriptions or links.
Cache find counts are based on the last time the page generated.


Cache Logs
 October 16 by mailboxmonty (1005 found)
Wow! Mr MBM has wanted to visit Staffa for as long as he can remember so when we were making a day trip to Iona it was a definite that we should take in Staffa as well. It was a beautiful day, calm sea, clear skies and hot sunshine. MBM (the dog) didn't much enjoy the trip and had to be shoved onto the boat in rather undignified fashion. The rest of us thought it was fabulous and thorougly enjoyed our hour ashore exploring the island and the extraordinary cave. What an amazing place! TFTC!

[view this log]
Basalt columns on Staffa
Mrs MBM and Monty himself at Fingal's Cave

 September 14 by RaF MUC (830 found)
Well on our Mull-trip going to Staffa and Iona just was a fixed thing to do...especially since I already have seen the "opposite" side in Northern Ireland. So with a bit of luck (and due to some ppl being late) we just suceeded in getting into a trip there just in the process of leaving.
And def. had loads to look at on that small island afterwards...the hour flew by like nothing. But enough time to answer the questions and take some pictures (which somehow all tend to be a bit too bright though) :). Thx for log-approval :)!
TFTC!
RaF MUC

[view this log]
RaF MUC@Fingal's Cave

 September 8 by 3fatties (202 found)
...wow!!!! Great place, only spent 30 mins on the island but well worth the rocky ride. Photos etc will follow shortly - tftc :)

[view this log]
 August 26 by cooknbull (629 found)
We come to Mull at least every summer (sometimes more often) and have been to Staffa on several occasions in our pre-caching days. However, the winds nearly prevented us from visiting the Cave this year, but fortunately, the morning was calm (preceding an incredibly violent night in which virtually every tent on the field was destroyed) and we had a lovely trip on the Iolaire. An inspiring cave in a glorious part of the country - whatever the weather. We love it!

[view this log]
GPS at Fingal's Cave
Staffa Landscape
Bull (of Cooknbull) on Staffa Summit
Iolaire (Gaelic for "Eagle")

 August 24 by mr-c (209 found)
We did the "3 island tour" - highly recomended. A great day, great views...TFTC

[view this log]

There are more logs. View them all on one page

Current time: 11/21/2009 11:56:28 AM
Last Updated: 10/16/2009 6:24:21 PM
Rendered: From Database
Coordinates are in the WGS84 datum

Geocaching, a Groundspeak Project.

Copyright © 2000-2009 Groundspeak Inc. All Rights Reserved.
About Groundspeak | Contact Us
Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.
Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the Groundspeak Terms of Use.
Read our Geocaching Logo Usage Guidelines.
Hotels | Altrec Store | GPS Devices