11 Caves to Explore in Scotland
Checkout places to visit in Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Mainland Scotland has a 96 mile (154 km) border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, the North Sea to the northeast, and the Irish Sea to the south. Scotland includes more than 790 islands.
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Caves to Explore in Scotland
Cleeves Cove is a cave system on the Dusk Water close to Dalry near Cleeves Farm and Blair Mill on the Blair Estate.n It has around 500 feet of passages. The cave has three practical entrances facing onto the Dusk Water. Many of the stalactites and stalagmites have been damaged by visitors. The cave has three practical entrances facing onto the Dusk Water.
A beautiful tidal island, which sits in the mouth of Campbeltown Loch and provides fantastic views of the town and over to Arran and the Ailsa Craig on a clear day. It was linked to the mainland by a natural shingle causeway called the Dhorlin near Campbeltown at low tide. The island is also known for its seven caves, one of which contains a life size cave painting depicting the crucifixion, painted in 1887 by local artist Archibald MacKinnon.
A beautiful sea cave in the basalt southwest coast of Staffa, an island of the Inner Hebrides, western Scotland. It has a length of 270 feet and its arched roof is said to reach between 66 feet and 72 feet above sea level. It became known as Fingal's Cave after the eponymous hero of an epic poem by 18th-century Scots poet-historian James Macpherson. It was now under the control of the National Trust for Scotland.
King's Cave is the largest of a series of seafront caves north of Blackwaterfoot on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. The caves were formed when melting glaciers resulted in a raised beach due to a process called isostatic rebound. Kilmory Parish church records suggest the cave may have been used for church meetings in the eighteenth century, and it’s also said to have been used as a school. Before being known as the King’s Cave it was known as Fingal's Cave after Fionn mac Cumhaill
A beautiful nature feature formed by two rocks, said to have been a hiding place of the Rev A Peden, the noted Covenanter. Traditionally it is said that this cave was used as a hiding place for Covenanters, including the famous Covenanter minister Alexander Peden in the 17th century, mainly during the so called 'Killing Times' of the 1680s
Sculptor's Cave is located on a beach of the Moray Firth, near Covesea. Lying below the beachside cliffs, the cave is accessible via two separate passages. There is evidence that this cave was an important place of ritual practice in the past. Bronze Age artifacts and clay pottery have been found within the cave and more disturbingly, a large number of human remains, predominantly those of children.
Smoo Cave is a large combined sea cave and freshwater cave. The cave was formed along two geological lines of weakness by a combination of erosion from the sea and an inland underground stream which has formed the innermost chambers. The cave can be thought of as two caves formed by different mechanisms which have joined together over time.
Snib’s Cave is a cave in Scotland. Snib’s Cave is situated north of Ballantrae, close to Bennane Head.
St Ninian's Cave is a natural cave on the southwestern coast of the Machars of Galloway, traditionally associated with St Ninian. It can only be reached by foot and the easiest approach is by walking down an excellent footpath through a leafy glen from Physgill then along the pebbly shore to the cave. There are great views towards the Isle of Man and many opportunities for wildlife spotting – including grey seals.
A beautiful artificial cave capable of holding 60 to 70 men, is said to have been a hiding place of Sir William Wallace and others. . The cave extends some 38' into the cliff, with two recesses. The small rectangular entrance to Wallace's Cave is situated on a rock ledge about 18m above the River Esk. The cave extends up to 12m into the cliff and contains two recesses.
The Wemyss Caves house mysterious carvings from as early as 300AD. In the face of natural and human threats, archaeologists are racing to decode them before they vanish. The Caves are historically precious due to the high number of carvings which are inscribed on their walls. The earliest of these are thought to date to the Bronze Age, whilst the vast majority are connected with the Pictish period.