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Waterslide (The) [Cnoc nan Uamh]]

Traligill, Sutherland.

The downstream section of the Cnoc nan Uamh system (see also Cnoc nan Uamh, Uamh an Uisge and the Pothole Entrance). Located along well worn path past Glenbain Cottage to prominent knoll, Cnoc nan Uamh (Hill of Caves).

A remarkable feature, open to surface, it consists of a wide river passage cut through rock inclined downwards along a thrust plane receding into darkness and taking full flow of river. At the top is a wide oval entrance with a awkward scramble down a steep and slippery bank to the stream. At stream level to the left is a passage upstream into the lower part of the Pothole Entrance. In extreme low water or if you do not mind getting wet it is possible to traverse round the edge of the stream into daylight at the foot of the pot and to scramble up the Pothole Waterfall to the upstream passage connecting with the mostly flooded streamway from Stream Chamber in Uamh an Tartair (Cave of the Roaring). The upstream passage is, in dry weather, a walking height passage with a deeply scalloped floor running about 10 m into the hill ending in a couple of 3 m high cascades. Some of the holes in the floor are very deep. Above the cascades, the passage continues to where a narrow rift rises above the streamway and runs for 10 m to a tight vertical squeeze (Fairbank Crack) rises 3 m above into the upper connection to Uamh an Tartair. The streamway below is effectively sumped where even in drought conditions, the high volume of water fills the wider but lower passages. Above Fairbank Crack (in Uamh an Tartair), a series of parallel rifts follow the same route as the streamway from a high roofed chamber to a high level passage downstream and to the right of the entrance. See the Cnoc nan Uamh System.

The Waterslide, open to the surface, consists of a wide river passage, inclined downward along the thrust plane, receeding into the darkness and taking the full flow of the river. It may be descended by various routes but in high water the top section is extremely dangerous and great care should be exercised if a descent is contemplated under these conditions. For experienced cavers, a hand-line or lifeline is desirable in anything but extreme low water. Even in normal conditions care should be taken descending to the water as loose gravel and slime make it slippery.

The most popular route down right hand side to point where roof low enough to provide support then across stream to wide dry area on left essentially large oxbow. In normal conditions, the direct route following the water can be taken. The ramp narrows gradually and the water becomes deeper and faster. Care should be taken as just beyond the passage open out but gradient almost vertical with water tumbling down large cascade. Best option to keep left avoiding main flow. If the dry oxbow route is followed, descend to where main passage peeters out and the way on is through obvious holes to the right. Further descent leads back to the stream at the bottom of a large cascade. Downstream, a series of scrambles down boulders and small cascades ends in a sloping rift down to a sump pool. This sump can be bypassed further back. It can also be dived but is of little consequence.

To reach the main downstream sump, cross the stream right below the large cascade. The continuation of the rift is obvious and can be followed down to slightly awkward crawl, over boulders and a jammed log, veering to right to re-join stream and dropping gently to long sump pool (the way on for divers).

The two downstream sumps are normally lined but due to abrasion by high flow of water, they may have broken and need re-lined. At the top of the sump pool there is plenty of room to kit up. The normal route is along the bottom of the rift and after 30 m a slight constriction is reached at large boulder. Beyond, the passage is larger and the end of the sump is reached after 5 m. A dry passage, 'Straight Flush', runs 25 m to the second sump pool. Sump 2 is about 40 m long with an air bell in middle and fairly straight forward. Beyond, 100 mm of passage leads to another sump. Just before this sump a high level phreatic bedding passage can be entered.

'Northern Lights is amongst the most decorated passages in Scotland and great care is required not to damage the many fine formations.

Eventually the passage drops to stream level and becomes too awkward to follow but a high level bypass through an area of breakdown regains the stream at 'Royal Flush Chamber', an impressive ramp where water rushes down to terminate in small hole. A few metres above and to side, a bedding plane has been followed a few metres and may be passable for very thin cavers. Likely this acts as overflow in high water and must lie close to upstream end of Lower Traligil Cave.

Above 'Royal Flush Chamber', a crawl can be pursued to upward squeeze into 'Pillars of the Establishment', superbly decorated chamber with possible continuation towards Lower Traligill Cave blocked with straws.

Alternate Names: Uisge (Uamh an), Uamh an Uisge, Whisky Cave, Water Cave, Cave of the Water

Notes: For details of the cave, its length and vertical range, see Cnoc nan Uamh System.

Sutherland, Inchnadamph, Cave of Water, or Uamh an Uisge (alt. 800 feet, 2 miles E.S.E. of the hotel). - 1937. The path up the glen leads close to the impenetrable Traligill Swallet. Three caves are half a mile off where the ridge between the active and dry beds of Traligill steepens. The arch seen at a distance is the trifling Cave of Roaring, but the roar is from the Cave of Water, which a burn enters by a waterfall from a 40 foot pot-hole above, to rage down a wide thrust plane, 3o°-45°. E. E. Roberts, July 1937, went down the side of the slab no feet with a hand line, and found the cave narrowed into a steep tunnel. Excellent standing ground for a party when the burn is not in spate. He climbed past the fall and followed the watercourse off the pot above round two or three corners to a ten-foot fall, which in fine weather might perhaps permit a wet climb. [YRA]

Sutherland, Inchnadamff, Cave of Roaring - 1939. Mr. W. Fairbank in the second chamber broke a way through into a considerable cavern with a burn which must be above the Cave of Water. Rigg had previously been down the great slab in the latter. [YRA. This may be Mr. William (Bill) Fairbank of the Craven Pot-Hole Club]

Sutherland, Inchnadamff, Cave of Roaring - Both Gowing and Mail have entered the cave of Roaring and been through the Fairbank crack into the river chamber. It has not yet the width given it in the Sheffield University plan. [YRA, c. 1954]

The Gaelic word 'uisge' from which the English word 'whiskey' is derived translates literally as water but is also a contraction for uisge beatha (water of life aka whisky). In most cases when dealing with caves 'water' is the more likely translation (except where there is clear evidence of distilling).

Hydrographic Feeds: Cuil Dubh Sinks

Hydrographic Resurgences: River Traligill