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Righ (Uamh)

Jura, Argyllshire.

Known now as the "King's Cave" and alleged by some to be associated with Robert the Bruce, the name could well have meant "the Lord's Cave" in the early 17th century. Battered on to the walls are well over a hundred poorly-marked crosses,and the excavation revealed that the centre of the cave had been extensively levelled with flat slabs with, a little farther in, a small, separate patch of paving. Behind it, and below the most decorated wall, a broken bone pin, its head perhaps a stylised cross, was found. Catholic services are known to have been held by a Franciscan missionary in remote caves in these islands in 1629, during a period of persecution. J Mercer 1974. Uamh Righ, an occupied cave at NR 5177 8246, is as as described by Mercer. Surveyed at 1/10,000. Visited by OS (N K B) 22 May 1978.

We scrambled around into a wide bay - Bagh Righ Mor - and came to stretch of glacial cliffs dotted with caves including Uamh Righ - the King's Cave. It is a deep cave and Dougal was feart in case there were bears and wolves laying in wait in the cavernous depths. The paleantologist, John Mercer, excavated the cave in 1971 and noted 'over a hundred poorly made crosses' that were 'battered' onto the walls. Mercer thought this cave might have been used as a place of worship by islanders living in the area clandestinely after the effective clearance of some of the population during the mid-nineteenth century.

No wooden crosses remain but there are a number of cruciform etchings visible on the walls to the rear of the cave, giving the place an eerie feel. Mercer also discovered tools and animal bones in the cave that pointed to Iron Age occupation.

[Jura's Wild West Coast]

Alternate Names: King's Cave, Lord's Cave

Notes: NR58SW 1 5177 8246. Uamh Righ (name NR 5185 8744) was excavated in 1971 by Mercer.