📌 Isle of Eigg, Small Isles
★★★★
Spring 1577 was a particularly dark period in the Isle of Eigg’s turbulent history. The island’s entire population sought refuge in a hidden cave on the south coast, taking cover from the MacLeods of Skye who had just landed on Eigg during a clan feud. After searching in vain for three days amidst snow and freezing temperatures, the MacLeods departed to return to Skye. Just as the islanders seemed safe, the MacLeods spotted a lookout. Returning to Eigg they followed his tracks through the snow to discover the cave, lighting a fire at the entrance. Trapped, nearly 400 islands were suffocated inside the cave by the smoke – bones were discovered inside the cave as recently as 2015. The cave is reached by a short walk from the island’s ferry terminal; after negotiating the low entrance passageway you can explore the pitch-black interior which stretches back 80 metres – though since our visit, signs have been erected warning of rockfalls. A short stumble to the west over slippery boulders is Cathedral Cave with a much larger and more visually impressive entrance, in which mass services were once held. Good rock pool territory lies in between the caves, but keep an eye on the tide.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Eigg ferry terminal, Galmisdale, Isle of Eigg
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NM 485838
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.877179,-6.129959
🚢 Ferry to Eigg from Mallaig (infrequent) or Arisaig (seasonal), both with good onward connections
🚗 Leave the car in Mallaig / Arisaig & take the ferry to Eigg
📝 Key info
▶ 4 km / 2 mi | ▲ 90 m | ⌛ 1.5 hr
Features: 🕸 Massacre Cave (Uamh Fhraing); 🕸 Cathedral Cave (Uamh Chràbhaichd)
⬤ Moderate | Good tracks and paths with rough descent to sea level. Slippery rocks to negotiate to reach (and explore) both caves from here. Massacre Cave requires crawling or a low stoop at first. Approach to Cathedral Cave submerged at high tide (and probably a couple of hours either side). Torch essential for Massacre Cave, and useful for Cathedral Cave.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – path in front of house at 🧭 NM 479837 – descend to coastline immediately west of Massacre Cave – Massacre Cave immediately to east – Cathedral Cave a few hundred metres to west – return by outward route
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Buzzard soaring above the caves; sheep; rockpool life including starfish, crabs and small fish.
Weather: Sunny with light winds, temperature in mid teens.
August 2016
