Smoo Cave came to public notice after Sir Walter Scott featured it in an account of the cruise around northern Scotland he undertook in 1814. Should you wish to venture further inside and learn about the natural and human history of the cave, then you can join us for a tour. The is a car park at the top of Smoo Cave (be wary, it gets very busy in summer). Smoo Cave . Visible archaeological deposits are confined to the main cave and consist of a midden covering much of the E portion of the cave; this is at least 17m long and a maximum of 8m wide. Smoo Cave and Geodha Smoo 01.jpg 11,098 × 3,674; 14 MB Smoo cave Durness - geograph.org.uk - 711052.jpg 640 × 480; 84 KB Smoo Cave Entrata.jpg 2,256 × 1,496; 1.42 MB Unfortunately, there was no guide available on that day, which would have added insight into the history of the cave. Book your tickets online for Smoo Cave, Durness: See 1,117 reviews, articles, and 1,046 photos of Smoo Cave, ranked No.5 on Tripadvisor among 19 attractions in Durness. Lerin Durness Sutherland IV27 4QB Scottish Highlands. The waterfall through the cavern roof is particularly pleasing :-) Tours not running at this time of year so not much more to add, but it'd be interesting to explore the system a bit further and hear more of the history! Its name may originate from the Norse ‘smjugg’ or ‘smuga’ meaning a hole or hiding-place. If you are daring enough then the ideal way to experience Smoo Cave would probably be alone at night, by the light of an oil lamp or flaming torch, and with an overactive imagination! It is indeed a very picturesque place. Smoo Cave is situated at the head of a narrow inlet which runs inland 600m from the N coast of Durness. Smoo Cave is a fantastic as well as a tremendous combination of the sea and a freshwater cave which is located close to the village of Durness in Sutherland. Located on Scotland’s most northerly coastline, on the only primary road in the area, the A838 Durness to Tongue and at the eastern edge of the village of Durness; a truly dramatic location and one of those "not to be missed, well worth a visit" stops, espcially if you are visiting the Smoo Cave Hotel. 1986: cave was modernised, the footpaths improved and light installed. We spent about an hour, at the cave. SMOO CAVE HOTEL. To get into the caves, it is first necessary to take a small dinghy across a little lake to start on a path that leads deeper into the cave. One of the most impressive elements of this cave is a rear outer chamber which has been created over the centuries by the sea. Smoo Cave is a unique and magnificent sea cave that merges with a freshwater cave complex to create an underground haven that every tourist will find impressive. Dating potentially as far back as the Mesolithic period legends include that it was used by the devil for his mischief making, utilised as a death trap by highwayman Donald McMurdo and, naturally, a base for smuggling operations. References . & MacLeod F., The Early Neolithic history of Smoo Cave in relation to a preserved bottle-opener found in the rear main chamber. 1992: archaeological excavation in the cave. Guided tours for small groups are conducted from April to October, but the tours are weather dependent as heavy rainfall can cause flooding in the caves. My wife and I visited off peak and were able to peruse the cave at our own leisure. The cave boasts one of Britain’s biggest sea cave entrances at 50 feet (15 metres high) and it also includes three chambers. The grand entrance to the cave has been enlarged by corrosion to a massive 40 metres wide and 15 metres high, making it the UK’s largest cave … This is a cave that’s absolutely monumental in size, and the cave entrance has the privilege of being the largest sea cave entrance in Britain – something you’ll only really appreciate once you visit the place. History Inside Smoo Cave. 2002: If you’re exploring the Scottish Highlands it is definitely not to be missed. Smoo Cave is a stunning sea cave that is set into the cliffs in Durness in suthereland, This is a mus visit if you are doing the North Coast 500 tourist around the north coast. The Location is remote but easily accessible and well worth the effort, Durness itself lies on the most northern coast the North Coast 500 in the Scottish Highlands. The cave is the last resting place of the New Shmoo. It consists of a main cave (33m wide and 48m deep) and a series of smaller, subsidiary, caves. Smoo Cave is fully accessible 365 days a year public access with a walkway into the waterfall chamber, free of charge. Visiting Smoo Cave. Smoo Cave stands directly beneath the A838 running east of Durness. 16thC highwayman McMurdo is said to have murdered his victims by throwing them down the blow hole into the main chamber of the cave. With lost of history and pretty sea views, Smoo Cave (click here for reviews) is well worth a visit. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license. Image of historic, great, limestone - 139859676 Midden deposits dating back potentially to the Mesolithic have been discovered, and partly investigated, on its eastern side. Smoo Cave is located in Durness, within the Sutherland region of North West Scotland. A path of crushed stone and wide steps zig-zags down the side of the hill to the inlet and the mouth of Smoo Cave. Located on the rugged northern coast of Scotland, Smoo Cave is unique because it features a rushing waterfall and large skylight. Public Domain. In 1992 an archaeological dig on a midden site inside the cave unearthed many interesting finds. GUARD were contracted to cut back and record the eroding face of a shell midden situated immediately within the entrance of Smoo Cave, Sutherland. Smoo Cave is the largest and few would disagree the most awe-inspiring coastline cave in Britain. There’s a small parking lot that gets crowded, but you can also park a little ways up the road. About Smoo Cave. Smoo Cave by Tony Oldham History survey of Smoo cave. Hutchison A. : Attribution: Iain Lees You are free: to share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work; to remix – to adapt the work; Under the following conditions: attribution – You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. The name "Smoo" is thought to be derived from the Norse word "smjugg" meaning a hole. Scheduled as Smoo Cave, prehistoric occupation site. Photo about Entrance Of The Smoo Cave Near Durness In Scotland. The largest of its kind in Britain, Smoo Cave is one of Sutherland’s most impressive natural head scratchers. A large cave at the head of the Geodha Smoo, near Durness, Sutherland. Smoo Cave. Allow sufficient time on your journey to visit here then the nearby attractions. - See 1,119 traveller reviews, 1,056 candid photos, and great deals for Durness, UK, at Tripadvisor. Smoo Cave has seen a lot of activity over the course of human history (and far more than we'll ever know), much of it unpleasant. MHG11597 - Smoo Cave Summary. Smoo Cave: Very large seacave with a long history. Reprinted from Tony Oldham (1975): The Caves of Scotland, by kind permission of the author. & Shifty M., Impressive caves set in a pretty little bay. 1904: first organised excavation took place but a report was never published. 21 images, 2 fieldnotes, 1 piece of folklore, 1 weblink, plus information on many more ancient sites nearby and across the UK & Ireland. Book your tickets online for Smoo Cave, Durness: See 1,098 reviews, articles, and 1,010 photos of Smoo Cave, ranked No.5 on Tripadvisor among 18 attractions in Durness. 19-AUG-1814: visited by Sir Walter Scott. GUARD, Glasgow University Free Press (unpublished), 1976. Smoo Cave has seen a lot of activity over the course of human history, much of it is unpleasant. The second video of some of the highlights of our trip around the north of Scotland this Easter. Visited Smoo cave, while driving the northern most section of the North Coast 500. Tel: +44 1971 511 227 Mob: +44 7709 441 620. info@smoocavehotel.co.uk Archaeological discoveries dating back to the Neolithic, Norse and Iron Ages (possible even the Mesolithic Age) testify to the cave’s rich history. Smoo Cave has an amazing history linking Vikings to this coastal fishing community and is able to offer guided tours in peak season. Smoo Cave in the far northern Highlands is arguably one of – if not the – most impressive natural wonders in Scotland.. 16thC highwayman McMurdo is said to have murdered his victims by throwing them down the blow hole into the main chamber of the cave. Smoo Cave | Haunted Highlands History By Charlene lowe Kemp / September 10, 2020 There are many ancient stories that tell that this cave is a gateway to the faerie world, guarded by spirits. MacPherson J. 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