Turus Mara
Turus Mara
4.5
Boat ToursEco ToursFerriesSightseeing ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
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About
Turus Mara run seabird and wildlife Cruise-tours to Staffa, the Treshnish Isles and Iona. Get some Puffin Therapy on Lunga in the Treshnish Isles, wonder at the awe inpiring Fingal's Cave and experience the serenity of Iona, cradle of christianity.
Dervaig, Scotland
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Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
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(40 reviews)
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4.5
372 reviews
Excellent
282
Very good
67
Average
12
Poor
9
Terrible
2
lesanjo
scotland246 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
We went across to Staffa and then on to the Treshnish islands with Turus Mara last week and it really was a great day out. The crew were first class, taking care of everything and explaining all sorts of things throughout the trip. We had almost 2 hours off the boat at Staffa. Fingels cave is just amazing and really is worth the trip on its own. But we saw an amazing pod of dolphins, maybe up to 30 of them as they entertained us for 10 minutes or more. Lots of other birds and many seals, some with their pups were seen throughout. Just fabulous, so glad we did this, thanks very much
Written 19 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tommymoyes
Liverpool, UK30 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Beautiful day with amazing views.saw minke whales ,lots of dolphins and Atlantic grey seals and common seals.a lovely stop off at staffa for fingals cave.and lots if bird life. The crew were amazing would highly recommend this trip
Written 5 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tomfy
Lancaster, UK3 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Absolutely amazing trip with sightings of sea eagle, minke whales feeding and dolphins right by boat
Written 19 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emmandeye
Glasgow165 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
An excellent boat trip to Staffa and the Treshnish Isles from Ulva Ferry with the Turus Mara team aboard the Hoy Lass. Lovely crew who exude knowledge of and enthusiasm for their home area and its wildlife, the excellent skipper that day was the founder (I think!), a very interesting man. The young crewman was brilliant.
The boat stopped in at Staffa for about an hour, ideal for a lunch picnic. We'd had such a good close view of Fingal's Cave from the boat (cue music!) that we stayed aboard. A short sail a little to the north or north west brought us a minke whale, easily seen, heard and smelled, quite a bonus on a day focused on basalt, seabirds and seals!
Lunga (one of the Treshnish Isles) is remarkable, though I had concerns that some visitors NOT with Turus Mara had brought a dog to this SSSI (designated for birds, seals and geological features). Following a path took us past nesting puffins and shags and then on to the tiered tower block of sea bird homes that is Harp Rock. Lots of birds still in residence in July, in flight and on the sea around. Our great crew had advised on appropriate conduct regarding the almost fearless puffins, a species facing population decline as small fish become more scarce around their breeding sites. As ground nesters and slow breeders, they face other threats as well.
A fabulous day all round, highly recommended.
The boat stopped in at Staffa for about an hour, ideal for a lunch picnic. We'd had such a good close view of Fingal's Cave from the boat (cue music!) that we stayed aboard. A short sail a little to the north or north west brought us a minke whale, easily seen, heard and smelled, quite a bonus on a day focused on basalt, seabirds and seals!
Lunga (one of the Treshnish Isles) is remarkable, though I had concerns that some visitors NOT with Turus Mara had brought a dog to this SSSI (designated for birds, seals and geological features). Following a path took us past nesting puffins and shags and then on to the tiered tower block of sea bird homes that is Harp Rock. Lots of birds still in residence in July, in flight and on the sea around. Our great crew had advised on appropriate conduct regarding the almost fearless puffins, a species facing population decline as small fish become more scarce around their breeding sites. As ground nesters and slow breeders, they face other threats as well.
A fabulous day all round, highly recommended.
Written 13 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grahan B
2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Did the full day trip to staffa and lunga. Had a wonderful trip, saw grey seals, Atlantic seals, dolphins, cormorants, puffins. Really friendly, knowledgeable team at turus mara. I hesitated at the price (I am a cheap person) but definitely worth it with hindsight. Memories of puffins won't be forgetten easily.
Written 27 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elaine H
Gorebridge, UK32 contributions
Jul 2023
We had a lovely boat trip to Staffa with Turus Mara. Easy booking, great customer service, brilliant
Written 21 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mo I
2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
Took the Stafa and Lunga trip. Very enjoyable. The crew were very helpful and super friendly. We got a lot of information through the trip and we even spotted an Eagle:)
Written 19 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael D
Wells, UK72 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
Excellent day out to Staffa (Fingals Cave) and Lunga to see the thousands of seabirds that breed on the Tresnish Isles. Boats depart from Ulva Ferry which is easily accessible from most parts of Mull. Parking is plentiful and free but remember to take your own food and drink. Most trips allow you an hour on Staffa and two on Lunga which is ample to take it all in. Crew are friendly and helpful in pointing out the passing wildlife. On our trip we were treated to a close-up view of a Sea Eagle on our return journey!
Written 15 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yuna S
1 contribution
Jul 2023 • Family
This trip was really amazing as we suspected while lookig for wildlife (we saw dolphins, puffins and seals!). You can be lucky and see a lot on good days or not, but that is on nature to decide. But what also made it the experience it was, was the verry nice crew of the boat who explained and showed us everytime there was something interesting to see and the amazing driver Andrew who kindly taught us about geology and history of the mainland while driving to the ferry terminal. Also he was really fun to talk to. Thank you a lot! Definitely recommend<3 Michaela and mom
Written 12 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nic C
Guildford, England, United Kingdom41 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
A lovely day out on Mull with an amusing and entertaining guide. We saw Fingals Cave and spent time with the puffins on Lunga - it was so charming to watch them in their burrows and spot the other wild birds around the island - razorbills, kittiwakes, shags, etc. Don't expect anything fancy or even particularly comfortable, but worth the trip nevertheless.
Written 9 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour, Jeannine. Que voudriez-vous savoir sur cette attraction ?
merci pour votre avis, cela donne envie de s'y rendre.
Pourriez-vous me renseigner où se trouve l'embarcadère et quels sont les horaires?
Les sorties comprennent-elles les 2 îles ou Est-ce 2 excursions différentes?
Grand merci à l'avance
Jeannine
Nicole H
Preston, UK11 contributions
We are staying at loch awe cabins and just wondering are well behaved dogs allowed? We are a family of 5 and wondering would I or my husband be left behind with the dogs. Thanks
DoubleD1969
New Jersey4,903 contributions
The Turus Mara website says this about dogs.
"We are happy to carry dogs. All must be kept under strict control at all times and particularly when ashore. During the bird breeding season dogs are only permitted in a designated area well away from breeding birds."
I would email them directly with any other questions.
Andrew S
1 contribution
Hello,
Would the short Staffa trip be suitable for a three and seven year old?
Thank you!
231colin
Isle of Mull, UK4 contributions
We have many folk travel with us - from newborn to 90s - Staffa can be managed by most - certainly many children enjoy the trip with the care and attention of their parents! Hope this helps.
EthelsNest
Hamilton, Bermuda
Can we see puffins the second week of September?
231colin
Isle of Mull, UK4 contributions
Sorry I missed this - no you cant I am afraid - they leave first week in August.
Sandie M
Glasgow, UK4 contributions
We're coming to Mull, staying near Loch Ba, for the last week of June. There are 6 of us plus a small and very well behaved poodle. I'd like to book a trip for us all to see Fingall's Cave and maybe puffins and Iona too. Is this a possibility. Should I book now or wait til I'm there?
Thanks, Sandie
Ps.... I really want to show off my beloved Scotland to my guests !
231colin
Isle of Mull, UK4 contributions
Hi there - we can certainly help! Its a fine time to see puffins - there are some on Staffa but loads more and lots of other birdlife in the Treshnish Isles! But of course it ts your call. I think doing Staffa Lunga and Iona all in one day is probably too much and think taking a day from Loch Ba to go down via the Ross of Mull to allow plenty of time for Iona is probably the best option. You can book all our trips via the Turus Mara website or call our number for more info. Probably booking on the week you are here would be ok but I cant guarantee trips wont be booked up in advance. Hope this helps, Colin
walker1945
Perth, UK16 contributions
If I book and pay in advance, what is the situation if the weather is too bad to land ?
Lelleys
Edinburgh, UK58 contributions
We had to reschedule from the Tuesday to the Friday as weather was bad but they advised 2 days in advance so they keep a watch on the weather.
Hi. We are planning a tour around Scotland next May/June and are looking at staying on Mull. While there we would like to do the tour to Staffa and to see the puffins at Lunga. My question is, is the tour suitable for small children? We would have our 3 year old (big for his age) with us and want to make sure he could access the itinerary with us.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Heather
231colin
Isle of Mull, UK4 contributions
Hi there - I am the skipper on Island Lass and it is our family business.
We carry many children every year to visit Staffa and the Treshnish Isles and in my view the tour is brilliant for some young children, but can be a little long for others - it really depends on the child!
Conditions at sea can be changeable - it would make sense to check on the likely conditions in advance of your trip if you have concerns.
Landing at Lunga on the low tide is a little challenging - it is a boulder beach - but is manageable for most. You always have the option of staying aboard and viewing the birds and the island from the boat.
The path on Staffa to Fingal's Cave is build on top of the collumns so up and down a little but is pretty simple for most. There is non slip path and handrail to hold onto.
Both boats have working toilets!
I've emailed and called multiple times and haven't received any answer. I purchased tickets for a Thursday morning Tour (4/21) and wanted to make sure you are still in business.
231colin
Isle of Mull, UK4 contributions
Hi - can you call 01688400242? Thanks