Discover Staffin

Staffin combines an impressive coastal landscape with traces of prehistoric times and a vibrant culture of remembrance. Anyone planning a trip to Staffin can discover different sides of the area among sea cliffs, dinosaur footprints, museums and historic sites. When looking for a holiday apartment or other accommodation, it is therefore worth placing the experiences you want at the centre of your travel planning.

Dinosaur footprints at Staffin Bay

One particularly unusual site is An Corran on the southern shore of Staffin Bay. More than 15 large dinosaur footprints, preserved in situ, can be found on the surface of a bioturbated sandstone. The footprints make the landscape a destination for anyone interested in geological history and observing nature. The Staffin Dinosaur Museum also focuses on this subject. Its collection includes the first evidence of, and the actual bones of, a dinosaur in Scotland.

In the Staffin Museum, a stone slab bearing the footprints of baby dinosaurs stands beside the footprint of an adult dinosaur. This direct comparison makes the museum visit especially vivid and gives families an accessible opportunity to talk about the size and lives of animals from long ago.

Sea cliff, walking trail and protected rock pools

Kilt Rock is a 60-metre-high sea cliff and one of Staffin's distinctive landscape features. Those who want to focus their travel planning more on scenery and activity can also put Rubha nam Bràithrean, also known as Brothers' Point, on their list. A short walking trail leads there to the easternmost point of the Trotternish peninsula.

At Rubha nam Bràithrean, rock pools visible at low tide are protected by the Skye Nature Conservation Order of 2019. They should only be viewed and not touched. This guidance is part of consciously planning your visit: the rock pools are a natural detail to observe, not to collect or alter.

Staffin between history and Gaelic culture

The Skye Ecomuseum is designed as an open-air museum with 12 noteworthy sites. Druim nan Linntean, the Skye Ecomuseum, is a museum without walls in the crofting community of Staffin, known in Gaelic as An Taobh Sear. This means that the focus is not only on individual exhibits, but also on the area's cultural character and its surroundings.

There is also a suspected Mesolithic site at the eastern end of Staffin Bay. Charred hazelnut shells from the site have been radiocarbon dated to approximately 6800–6600 BC (calibrated). This dating opens up another perspective on Staffin: alongside dinosaur footprints, there is also evidence here of human activity from the Early Stone Age.

Tobar Loch Shianta is another culturally and historically interesting destination. The healing spring was considered the best-known healing spring on Skye. When planning your trip, you can combine such places with museums and scenic sites without limiting the journey to just one type of experience.

The right accommodation for your travel plans

A holiday apartment in Staffin may appeal to travellers who want to include nature, culture and history in their days. Before booking, consider whether you want to focus on dinosaur footprints and museums, the sea cliff and walking trail, or the historical and cultural connections. This allows you to choose accommodation based on your preferred travel rhythm rather than just one individual excursion destination. For families, the variety of themes provides plenty to talk about and a range of ideas: one day can revolve around dinosaurs, and another around the landscape, Gaelic culture or the island's history.

More destinations for your travel plans

If you would like to include other places in your travel plans alongside Staffin, you can also discover Cononbridge, Mallaig, Kinlochewe, Cannich, Aird Of Sleat, Nethy Bridge, Balmacara and Inverness.

For the higher-level travel overview: Highland.