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Deep Depression (Cave of the)

Inchnadamph, downstream of Cuil Dubh Sink, Sutherland.

The Cave, currently (deliberately) blocked by flood debris (with a pipe to allow flood water to flush through the lower cave) acts as an overflow flood sink for Cuil Dubh. It lies below a low cliff on the east bank of a seasonally dry streambed close to the northern end of a series of large interconnected shakeholes about 100 m NNW of Uamh na Doineinn (Storm Cave). The cave was discovered in 1992 after a series of extensive floods. Further flooding reburied the cave [hence nick-name 'Deeply Depressing'] but the entrance reappeared in 2012 (although the connection to the lower part of the cave was still blocked).

Beneath the unstable entrance climb, a crawl enters Stonewain Hall, a sometimes spacious cavern, below which Deephallow Road funnels down a precipitous series of steps to a low soakaway. A body length squeeze gives access to the Travelator, a steep and awkward ascent up a loose gravel bank to a roomy chamber, 3 m high and floored with sand and gravel. Opposite the point of entry a 4 m clean washed rift once gave access to the streamway, but this became blocked shortly after the initial discovery. A crawl to the left emerges into 'Off Our Butts Chamber', a roomy peat filled cavity with possible connections to the surface and an alternative 4 m climb back down to the streamway. This is doubtless the same water seen vanishing into the sump at the end of Storm Cave. Upstream this emerges from boulders and has been probed by diving for several metres. Downstream, Black Water Tunnel can be followed for 10 m to where it disappears into boulders.

Following the GSG's mid-summer BBQ 2016, works were carried out by Martin Hayes, Toby Speight and John Crae to to protect and seal the entrance to Deep Depression. Stacked sandbags were used to create retaining walls with grid over the remaining hole and a pip to direct water to the concealed dig face.

Alternate Names: Cave of the Great Depession, Cuil Dubh Dry Valley Cave, Coire Domhain (Uamh an)

Notes: The name Coire Domhain translates literally as Earth Hollow. Domhain is the genitive singular of Domhan (usually used when referring to the planet Earth). Coire can mean any hollow or dell but could also be a kettle or whirlpool.

The entrance to the cave is an unstable slot in stream debris pushed against a rock outcrop. The excavated hole has been infilled with sandbags filled with extracted materials with a pipe to direct flood water into the lower passage in an attempt to scour out the connection to the lost cave below.

Hydrographic Feeds: Cuil Dhubh basin

Hydrographic Resurgences: River Traligill