📌 Blackwaterfoot, Isle of Arran
★★
Carved by ocean tides in a time of higher sea levels, the Preaching Cave near Blackwaterfoot has had several functions over the last few centuries. It was used once as a school, and more famously as a place of worship by a Free Church congregation who objected to the local laird’s choice of minister, breaking away and forming their own church inside the cave. Given these functions, the cave is not large and certainly isn’t the most interesting on Arran – head to King’s Cave or Black Cave for that – but the coastal setting is pleasant all the same. Walking here from the nearest car park (shared with the trailhead for Kilpatrick Dun) is also straightforward, though spoilt a little by the stench of rotting seaweed on our visit!
🌍 Location
📌 Access from the unclassified coast road 1 mi south of Blackwaterfoot, Isle of Arran
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NR 900266
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.487830,-5.325261
🚌 Infrequent bus stops at Carmahome turnoff, 300m north of car park (0.5 mi)
🚗 Tiny car park at 🧭 NR 903269 / 🛰️ 55.490330,-5.321143
📝 Key info
⌚ Always open
🎫 Free
💬 From the car park it’s a 10-min walk (each way) to the cave (⬤ Easy). Cross the main road and follow the signposted track on the opposite side west to the shore. Turn left on the coast path, with the series of cliffs soon becoming visible to the left. The Preaching Cave is the biggest cave and the one with the clearest path!
