'Really special' Scottish cave compared to iconic Harry Potter location goes viral

A "really special" Scottish cave that has been likened to an iconic location from Harry Potter has gone viral.

Fingal's Cave is a sea cave situated on the uninhabited Inner Hebrides island of Staffa. It was formed around 60 million years ago from lava that erupted from an ancient volcano on the nearby Isle of Mull.

The cave is famous for its unique appearance thanks to its hexagonally jointed basalt columns. It is also known for its natural acoustics, which have inspired musicians from Felix Mendelssohn to Pink Floyd.

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One user on forum social network site Reddit shared a video of Fingal's Cave that has since gone viral. The clip, which was posted on the website's 'natureisbeautiful' community, has received more than 6,600 upvotes.

The caption reads: "A stunning sea cave of hexagonal basalt columns in Fingal's Cave, Scotland." Since being posted, fellow Reddit users have been quick to share their thoughts on the cave.

One stated: "This is Staffa island. Is a really special place.

"The whole island are the columns rising from the sea, then with more jumbly rocks and then grass on top. Puffins nest there."

Another Reddit user commented: "Horcrux back there if you want it." This is a reference to a scene in the film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, in which Harry and Professor Dumbledore visit a strange sea cave in order to destroy a 'horcrux' — part of villain Lord Voldemort's soul.

Meanwhile, others said that Fingal's Cave brought to mind certain video games. One shared: "Reminds me of Minecraft."

A second echoed: "Came here to say this! Minecraft vibes."

Another posted: "Straight out of the game Witcher! That’s where they got the idea from."

Staffa can be reached via boat from Oban and Tobermory, with local operators offering guided tours. However, the island's landing jetty is currently closed until March due to "necessary improvement works".

More information about Staffa and Fingal's Cave can be found on the National Trust for Scotland website.

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