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Truff Cave [East]

Port William, Monreith, Wigtownshire.

Sea cave entrance at the southeast end of a 'natural arch' (a long narrow slightly sloping rift through a high-sided promontory), facing southeast onto Back Bay, south of Kirkmaiden, Wigtownshire (Dumfries and Galloway). From aerial photographs access to the cave could be difficult (local sources claim it is accessible along the beach from both sides at low tide). No easy access from above (SRT difficult as permission required in a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a SSSI but not required if accessed from the beach). No clear access along the foreshore which is flooded except at low tide (but locals suggest it is doable). Maps and photos suggest there may be some sand exposed around the point at Benbuie at low tide (spring tides drop the water level about 10 m) but it is rocky nearer the cliffs.

Alternative Names: None recorded.

Notes: Truff Cave. ' Glasserton.' Probably derived from Truff Hill. ' Kirkmaiden.' " Truff, corruption of e. turf." - Jamieson. E. turf, m.e. turf, torf - A.s. turf + du. turf, peat + icel. for/ + dan. t'urv + swed. for/ + o.h.g. zurba + g. for/. All from. Tent, base TORBA, turf; probably cognate with SKT. darbha, a kind of grass (Skeat). [Maxwell]

A cave on the shore of Knock [estate] from which leads a subterraneous passage to another cave a little west of it. [Scotland's Places]

Alternatively could be a variant on 'through' referring to the connecting passage of the natural arch.

From at least 1853 OS were aware there was a connection between the east and west caves but the OS namebook applied the name Truff Cave only to the east cave. The west cave was un-named.

See also Truff Cave (West).