Summer is here and for lovers of everything outdoorsy Scotland has you covered with its beautiful selection of munros, lochs, glens, birdwatching spots, waterfalls, lighthouses and monuments (to name a few!)
Recently, we ran a poll with our Scotsman readers asking for their choice of the most spectacular places to visit in Scotland for new tourists, and while their answers made for an exciting selection it was lacking one of the country’s most fascinating natural attractions; caves.
If you’re a nature enthusiast - or intereted in Scottish mythology - you’ll enjoy Scotland’s many diverse and breathtaking caves that are scattered from the lowlands to the highest peaks of the Scottish Highlands.
So, let’s crack into these seventeen Scottish caves, caverns and coves and explore their rich heritage while doing so. Disclaimer: Not every site on this list is accessible, check local authority websites for more details if you’re interested.
9. Keil Caves, Kintyre Peninsula
Close to Southend village on the southern end of Kintyre you can find the mysterious Keil Caves. Broadly, the area is famous for beautiful beaches, fine walks and historical attractions, and this location combines all three. The caves or “St Columba’s footprints” are said to be the site where the saint landed in Scotland in 563. Saint Columba was an Irish abbot and missionary who is credited with spreading Christianity in Scotland which endures to this very day. Photo: © Dana Murray
10. St Columba's Cave, Ellary
St Columba’s Cave can be found on the northern shoreline of Loch Caolisport. The natural cave was reportedly a cell occupied by St Columba on his journey from Ulster to his final settlements at Iona and Dunadd. At the time he asked King Conal for his permission to establish an Iona-based monastery. While waiting for a response from the king, Columba stayed at this cave. While there is no absolute evidence that this is true, scholars do assert that the cave was certainly used as human habitation many times over the centuries. Photo: © Anne Burgess
11. Gilmerton Cove, Edinburgh
This series of hand-carved underground chambers rests beneath the streets of Gilmerton, a suburb of Edinburgh which was once a mining village. According to Undiscovered Scotland: “The mystery arises because no-one knows when this obviously man-made complex was excavated, or by whom, or what it was used for. “The "traditional" theory is that the Cove was the work of George Paterson, a blacksmith who is said to have excavated it between 1719 ad 1724 as a home and workshop for himself and his family.” However, given the location’s proximity to Rosslyn Chapel, others have theorised a connection to the Knights Templar. Photo: via WikiCommons
12. Wemyss Caves, Kirkcaldy
The Wemyss Caves were created by sea waves crashing into the East Wemyss area in Fife around 8000 years ago. According to Welcome to Fife the “caves hold the highest concentration of Pictish symbols found anywhere in Scotland.” This high number of wall carvings is why the caves are of huge historical significance. Unfortunately, however, despite being precious heritage sites the caves are reportedly under threat of structural instability, erosion and vandalism. Photo: © Kevin Rae