Day 4 ?Staffa

Is there any way to predict the weather?

No. Put all such thoughts from your mind. It isn’t going to happen.

When are you going?

It would help to have some more information. When (as in month) are you going to Kilmartin? And where will you be after the Kilmartin trip? What kind of transportation will you have?

But no, Trelawney is right. There is no way to predict the weather, and you could wind up having your trip cancelled at the last minute. That's what happened to me with one trip. The other one worked out well, but you just never know, so that's part of the plan, or lack thereof, when you go to Scotland. 😊

If you are on the Ricks Steves tour, day 4 (Oban) is the day to see the puffins. Unless something has changed recently, the RS recommended tour is an all-day tour, which starts very early morning. You will likely miss the excursion to Kilmartin Glen. Until recently, day 4 was a “free” day in Oban so that tour members could make arrangements to see puffins. But the weather is very fickle and chances are high that the puffin tour will be cancelled last minute. That’s what happened to me and several others on the RS tour in June 2024. You can always reserve a spot on the puffin tour (RS office should have sent you information) and hope that the weather cooperates. If not, you will get a refund.

I'm assuming you are on the 13 day RS trip to Scotland and have day 4 in Oban. If so the itinerary makes the comment for Day 4 'take an all-day tour to Staffa '. That suggests it's an either or situation.

However there is this half day trip from Oban on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday afternoon but that would depend on getting back to Oban to catch the 12.15 ferry to Craignure.. You need to arrive at least 10 minutes before the ferry sails. Tickets also need to be booked before.

So you would need to check what time the Kilmartin trip will get you back to Oban, where it will drop you off and that you will have enough time to catch the ferry. Also be aware, the trip won't get you back to Oban until 8.15...

And no, there is no way you can predict the weather!

We took the "three island nature tour" with Westcoast in late May (2023) and Lunga was chock full of puffins. On Staffa, our shore time was too short to both inspect the Cave and hike up to where the puffins were supposed to be, so we did the cave.

The puffin population has been decimated by the bird flu and climate change in the last few years, so they are getting scarcer.

Thanks all. I think it would end up being a big hassle to try to get to Staffa and I don’t want to miss Kilmartin. I’ll try to catch the puffins on Craigleith on tour with the bird sanctuary in North Berwick. Has anyone done one of those?