Lunga

Island Small Treshnish Isles island famous for puffins

Lunga, in the Treshnish Isles off Scotland’s west coast, draws seabird watchers and boat tours - puffins, razorbills and dramatic cliffs are the main attractions for photographers and nature trips.

Lunga is an uninhabited island in the Treshnish Isles group off the west coast of the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It is noted for its seabird colonies and coastal wildlife.

The island shows evidence of occasional human use such as seasonal grazing and small stone structures, but it has no permanent modern population. Its role has been primarily as a natural habitat for seabirds and marine life.

Lies within the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of the Isle of Mull, part of the Treshnish Isles archipelago and administered from the western Scottish mainland region of Argyll and Bute.

Wildlife seasonality: Best time to see breeding seabirds is late spring to mid summer, when Atlantic puffins and other coastal species are present in largest numbers.

How to Get to Lunga #

Lunga (the Treshnish Isle of Lunga) is reached only by boat. Wildlife and sightseeing boat trips run from Tobermory on the Isle of Mull during the tourist season; operators board from Tobermory harbour and landings on Lunga depend on the operator and sea/landing conditions. To reach Tobermory from the Scottish mainland take the Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) ferry from Oban to Craignure on Mull, then drive or take local transport north on Mull to Tobermory (the drive from Craignure to Tobermory is roughly on the island’s single-carriageway roads and takes under two hours by car).

Tips for Visiting Lunga #

Visit Lunga in late May through July for the best chance to see Atlantic puffins and large seabird colonies; aim for calm mornings when sea conditions are gentler for small-boat landings.
Book a boat trip from Tobermory (Isle of Mull) or a local charter and confirm whether the operator makes landings-some trips only view the island from the boat, while others put you ashore for walks.
After landing, follow the established paths away from the jetty: many visitors stay close to the landing area, but a short walk along the grassy ridges gives quieter viewpoints and better opportunities to see nesting birds without disturbing them.
To avoid crowds and disturbance to wildlife, choose weekday departures or the earliest/last trips of the day and keep to marked routes; don't approach marked nesting areas or young birds.