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Prince Charlie's Cave [Borodale]

South Morar, Arisaig, Loch nan Uamh, Invernessshire.

NGR:NM 69064 84422
WGS84:56.89346, -5.79335
Length:Not recorded
Vert. Range:1.5 m
Altitude:Not recorded
Geology:N Britain Paleogene Dyke Suite - basalt & microgabbro
Tags:Cave, SeaCave, Archaeo
Registry:main

Fissure Cave near Arisiag House by Borrodale Beach.

Site where Bonnie Prince Charlie supposedly sheltered after the '45 before fleeing to France. [J. Wordsworth]

Arrived at Borrowdale in early morning,. Found Angus MacDonald living in a bothy, as his house had been burned ... Tradition still shows the cave on the shore below Borrowdale House which the Prince is believed to have inhabited on this visit tom Borrowdale (10-13 July). [Blaikie quoting Lion in Mourning, Vol. II, p. 252]

A small roughly square entrance is concealed from below but can be easily reached by a scramble over boulders.

Reputed to be the cave where Prince Charles Steuart spent the night before his final embarkation to France from Loch Nan Uamh on September 19th 1746. The cave can be reached by a short walk from Druimindarroch or from Arisaig House. [wildlochaber]

According to contemporary reports, the Prince arrived in Mallaig by boat around 5th July, and his companions spent a few days finding out whether local clan chiefs would offer him protection. MacDonald of Morar was willing to do so, and went off to look for the young son of Clanranald. In the meantime, Charles and his party went to a cave and slept. Morar returned, saying he'd not found Clanranald, and could offer no further assistance. Under cover of darkness, the Prince's party made their way towards the bothy occupied by Aeneas MacDonald of Borrodale.

John McKinnon, who had escorted Charles to Borrodale, roused MacDonald from his bed and first asked him cautiously if he had heard anything of the Prince. On hearing a negative, McKinnon asked, 'What would you give for a sight of him?' MacDonald replied, 'Time was, that I would have given a hearty bottle to see him safe, but since I see you I expect to hear some news of him.' McKinnon then revealed the Prince, and handed him into MacDonald's safe keeping. MacDonald said: 'I shall lodge him so secure that all the forces in Britain shall not find him out.'

Now, whether this cave on Loch Uamh was the cave in which Charles slept before he went to Borrodale, or whether it was the secure place where Aeneas MacDonald swore to hide him, the fact remains that it's one of the many caves in which Charles is said to have taken refuge on his merry dance across Scotland. [hazeltree]

Alternate Names: Prince Charlie's Cave [1]

Notes: A disclaimed silver coin is recorded as coming from Prince Charlie's Cave, Borrowdale, in Treasure Trove records. It is described as a William III shilling, worn and bent twice as a love token. [J. Wordsworth]

Hydrographic Feeds: None

Hydrographic Resurgences: None

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This entry was last updated: 2025-01-06 16:58:27

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