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Piper's Cave (Tiree)

Island of Tiree, Ceann a' Bharra, Argyllshire.

An Uamh Mhòr, the big cave, at end of Druim nan Uan, (ridge of the lambs), & can be reached if careful at low tide when rocks are dry. Has number of other names: Uamh an Fhuamaire, the cave of the giant, Uamh nan Calman, cave of the doves, or Uamh an Òir, the cave of gold. Niall Brownlie writes in his book Bailtean is Ath-Ghairmean: North of fort is Uamh Mhòr, huge opening that penetrates far into hill. In my young days often referred to as Uamh an Òir, & oral tradition maintains that it traverses entire island. My mother related how piper, accompanied by dog, set out to traverse Great Cave but never seen again. When neighbour went to mouth of cave, he found only the dog, still alive - but hairless. "Without three hands - two for pipes & one for sword - no human will ever traverse the Cave of Gold, my mother would say most emphatically. Some versions of story have dog coming out at Dùn Mòr a' Chaolais above Milton & sound of pipes heard at Druim na h-Uamha,' the ridge of the cave' in Scarinish. Cave also known as Uaimh Dhiarmaid, the cave of Diarmad, ancient Irish hero. Just inside entrance is rock platform called Leabaidh Nighean Rìgh Lochlainn, 'the bed of the daughter of the king of Norway'. This probably relates to 10th century Irish traditional story about Cú Chulainn & Derbforgaill. Connection seen before in Balephetrish, where old name for Ringing Stone was Coire Fionn mac Chumhaill after the Irish Fenian hero, and it shows the influence of the Irish Gaels on Tiree.

Alternate Names: Piper's Cave [5], Mhor (Uamh), Fhuamaire (Uamh an), Giant (Cave of the), Calman (Uamh nan), Doves (Cave of the), Òir (Uamh an), Gold (Cave of), Dhiarmaid (Uaimh), Diarmad's (Dermot's) Cave

Notes: See also # Kenavara Caves