Some areas seem to be particularly well endowed with such places, presumably a combination of geology, weather and sea conditions. This cave is near Whiten Head in Sutherland; perhaps in the intimidating category (at least to me) given the scale of the surrounding cliffs.
Heading into the marginally more sheltered waters at the mouth of Loch Eriboll, there seem to be a never ending succession of fantastic features…….
…….steadily getting smaller and more intimate as you head south. I wonder if this waterfall drops straight into the water at high tide? I must go back and find out some time.
Not far away, Eilean nan Ron has all sorts of interesting places to explore.
One arch leads through into a large amphitheatre, enclosed by rock walls on three sides and a jumble of fallen boulders on the fourth. There’s a little cave in one wall. It looks like it would be possible to scramble through into the adjacent bay although I haven’t tried. Another intimidating one for me.
Not far away again, one of the Rabbit Islands has an arch right through the middle. I don’t know if you can get through this one. It looked a bit skinny for my Feathercraft. There was a bit of swell coming through and I didn’t fancy getting wedged in there!
This one, in the Summer Isles, definitely comes into the elegant category.
This one on Bottle Island looked interesting but I certainly wasn’t getting in there. Still, the colours in the rocks were rather gorgeous.
Skye seems to have far more than its fair share, but then Skye has more than its fair share of everything! This is on the east coast near Staffin.
As is this fine cave. It’s actually quite long with other passages running at right angles back out to sea.
The light at the end of the tunnel perhaps? This one went on for ever. My bottle went long before I reached the end. I could hear waves crashing on rocks somewhere deep within the cliffs.
The west coast simply has loads. This one is marked on the map in Loch Bracadale.
This one is not far away on the Duirinish coast.
As is this one.
And this cave.
Loch Dunvegan has a couple. This lovely one marked on the map…..
…..and this one is not, although perhaps it is not quite within the confines of the loch.
This was one of those places I just had to land. Arch or collapsed cave, or a bit of both? The only way off the beach with its tiny waterfall was back out to sea.
Some can be reached on foot, such as here on Oronsay.
Or here on the west coast of Rum.
Or at Carsaig on Mull.
Back on the mainland at St Abbs. I could just squeeze through here. I don’t mind a few scuffs on my boat.
Wales has plenty. Everyone knows where this one is don’t they? One for my intimidating list. That’s a lot of rock to hang above my head.
Not far away near Rhoscolyn Head we found this beautiful cave. I could have just floated about in here for hours.
Even England gets in on the act. I suspect the west country has rather a lot but I’ve never paddled there ..…..This little needle eye is on the east coast at Flamborough.
Whilst this altogether more spectacular affair, complete with gannet colony, is just to the north at Bempton cliffs.
These are just a few of the wonderful places my little boat has taken me. There must be hundreds, if not thousands more, round the British Isles. Anyone like to share some more?
Andrea.
