I can't quite believe that after 15 years of visiting Skye to go sea kayaking and paddling in this specific area on numerous occasions, it wasn't until May this year that I actually stopped off at Spar Cave and managed to explore its inner recesses. It was a fascinating place to visiting and well worth the effort.
It was one of the paddles at this years very successful Scottish Sea Kayak Symposium and it was whilst crossing over to Boreraig for lunch that I think I finally decided to help run another Symposium in Jersey in 2014.
Actually finding the inlet wasn't straight forward and a gentle swell meant that landing was more entertaining than some of us had hoped for.
Looking towards the Cave. Apparently when Sir Walter Scott visited the cave in 1814 he had to climb over the wall, which is just visible at the top of the green slope. On the right hand side can be seen the gap, which it is now possible to walk through. This supposedly, appeared as a result of a passing boat firing a cannon.
There are two cave entrances, it is the left hand one which is the one that is of interest.
Initially the floor of the cave is very muddy but this turns into a steep slope covered in calcium carbonate, which is quite spectacular and has surprisingly good friction, for climbing up. Many of the spectacular rock formations, both stalagmites and stalactites, where taken by Victorian trophy hunters.
Some of the smaller rock formations have managed to survive intact.
After the excitement of Spar Cave we crossed to the north shore of Loch Eishort to have lunch at Boreraig. Allowing plenty of time to explore the ruins and to find the ammonites.
Unfortunately one of the group also decided to dislocate their finger, which resulted in rather more excitement than we had planned for at the end of the day, but that's another story.
Unfortunately one of the group also decided to dislocate their finger, which resulted in rather more excitement than we had planned for at the end of the day, but that's another story.
4 comments:
Spar Cave is a fascinating place - as you say, once you've found it. We had to paddle back again before we found it.
We had somebody with us who had been before but it still took a while to find the exact place. I have the co-ordinates in my GPS for next time I go. I haven't published them as I think first time visitors should have the thrill of discovery, like we did.
Hi Kevin, I am glad you enjoyed Spar Cave. I had hoped we could catch up at the symposium but 2 knee operations and a shoulder operation have done for my paddling this year.
Douglas :o)
Hi Douglas. Pity that you couldn't make it to the Scottish Sea Kayak Symposium, it was one of the best I have attended. Spar Cave was just 1 of 6 really great day trips that I managed during the week. Hope that you are well on the way to recovery and be back on the water before too long.
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