Smoo Cave

Smoo Cave is a marine and freshwater cave east of Durness in Sutherland on the north coast of the Scottish Highlands. Its inner part is a karst cave in the limestone of Durness Group. The Old Norse word " Sumvya " from which Smoo derives, means " river valley " or " column".

The limestone cave is about 60 m long, 40 m wide and the arch over the entrance about 15 m high. This makes it the sea cave with the greatest access to the British Isles. The two T-shaped chambers arranged educated, easily accessible cave is reached by a steep path that leads down to a bay. The cave can be visited by boat. Its interior is illuminated with floodlights.

The ocean surf and a small stream which flows from the inner part of the cave have formed the narrow, 800 meter-long fjord " Geodha Smoo " over the millennia. The " Allt Smoo " said creek flows through a hole in the ceiling in the almost 25 meters long, " Falis Smoo " or chimney Smoo said second chamber. In cascade he falls into a pool with a depth of around eight meters. After heavy rainfall, the Allt Smoo to the raging creek. The blowhole and the waterfall can also be observed from a vantage point above the cave.

Excavations show that the cave was used for more than 6000 years ago by hunters. Walls and Køkkenmøddinger were exposed.

Legends

There are some stories about the Smoo Cave, which should also have been a smugglers hideout. A local legend from the 16th century tells us that the tramp McMurdo murdered his victims by having them thrust into the blow hole of the cave. McMurdo is on the grave of Balnakeil church cemetery, with views of the nearby Balnakeil Bay.