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Ardlair Cave

Loch Maree, Ardlair, Wester Ross.

ON the north-eastern shore of Loch Maree, about three miles above the place where the river Ewe leaves the loch, is situated Ardlair. There are groves of different kinds of trees, behind which rise a series of marvellous precipices, unclimbable, except in two or three places, save by sure-footed deer or goats. About a quarter of a mile to the southeast of the present Ardlair House, and rather nearer to the house than a small tarn nestling there beneath the cliffs, is a large cairn or assemblage of enormous rocks, heaped and piled upon each other in fantastic confusion. Ash trees and wild roses, heather and ferns, grow in tangled medley among the debris, and, concealing the interstices, render access extremely difficult. But the persevering searcher will discover a roomy cave, formed by a mighty block of rock lying slant ways over other fallen blocks. The entrance to the cave is well concealed, and can only be got at by climbing on to a ledge that forms a narrow platform in front of it. After groping two or three yards along a low narrow passage a dark chamber is reached in which one can stand upright. The floor is level, and perfectly dry. The cairn is about a hundred and fifty yards from the shore of Loch Maree. This cave is called by old Gairloch people now living " The cave of the king's son".

Alternate Names: King's Son (Cave of the)

Notes: An old woman named Oighrig (Euphemia) lived near Letterewe with her son Kenneth. They had a goat called Earba {i.e. a roe). The goat failing to yield the usual supply of milk was watched by Kenneth, who with much trouble and difficulty traced her to " the cave of the king's son," about three miles distant from their home. Here the goat held the small platform in front of the entrance, and would not allow Kenneth to climb to it. He went for a rope, and throwing it over the goat's horns secured the animal. A boy now appeared on the scene, and hugged the struggling goat. Kenneth first thought the child a fairy, but he discovered his mistake. A young lady of great beauty came from the cave hearing the cries of the boy. The couple had taken refuge in the cave and would have died from hunger had they not enticed Earba to supply them with her milk. Kenneth reported thisto his mother, who seeing the couple must ultimately die of want and cold if they remained there, went and persuaded them to live at the humble cottage near Letterewe. The young lady was Flora, and she told them that the boy's name was Eoghan, or Ewan, but she would not reveal their surnames, so the boy was called Eoghan Mac Gabhar (Ewan the son of the goat). According to the story, it was eventually proven that Ewan was the son of Olaf the Great whose widow was Queen. (Electric Scotland)

The coordinates given are for Ardlair House while the cave itself (probably a boulder cave) is apparently a quarter mile south-east [possibly Uamh a' Mhail although this is further than a quarter mile from the house].

No date can be assigned to the events narrated, but they cannot have occurred later than in the thirteenth or fourteenth century.