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Fhuamhair (Uamh an)

Rona, Invernessshire.

Sea Cave, Raised Beach Cave

The cave is roughly triangular in plan and approximately 33m deep (from NW-SE). It is 28m wide at its mouth, but only a metre wide at its deepest point. To the rear of the cave are several rows of stones, each about 6m in length running SW-NE, forming seating. Immediately to the SE of these is a depression in the stone floor, which apparently served as a font. An altar, comprising a short stone pillar, is 5m to the SE of the font in the centre of the cave. Large stone debris scatters the mouth of the cave with a small, stone-built rectilinear structure (3m NW-SE x 2m SW-NE) constructed adjacent to the southern wall of the cave mouth. A small shell midden, around 4m in diameter, is situated against the northern wall of the cave approximately halfway into the cave. [HER SM11060]

A little remnant of its people in the Island of the Big Men and black turrets in the sound between Screapadal and the Sanctuary mocking the flagstone of Maol Rubha and the Giant's Cave in Rona with its little rows of stones, seats of men and women and children listening to Maighstir Ruairi telling that here is no abiding city, Rainy or nor Rainy (Extract from Screapadal by Sorley MacLean).

Only consecrated cave in the country. Cave is down steep rocky climb on east side of island, which had a pre clearance population of close to 200. Used for Sunday services up until 1912, when new church built on island then until 1970s. Original stone pews still intact (comfort not a priority) as is alter and natural font perpetually replenished from water dripping through rocky roof. If you are adventurous, you can still get married here.

A 10-12 m wide triangular undercut in a fissure in the cliff above ? southeast of Braig. Series of one large and three smaller caves or rock shelters follow the rock fissure down to the shore.

Alternative Names: Uamh na Gaisgeach, Warrior's Cave, Famous Warrior (Cave of the) Giant's Cave, Church Cave

Notes: Prior the construction of the church in 1912 the islanders worshipped in Uaimh an Fhuamhair (giant's cave) on the east side of the island; the pulpit was a stone pillar, the font was a natural hollow fed by water dripping from the cave roof and the pews were boulders. (Highland Special Landscape Areas)

There is a band of Lewisian Complex-amphibolite just to the north of this location.