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Owl Hole

Coire Mulrooney, Argyll.

One of the longest caves in Appin. The entrance in large 30 m by 10 m depression above the Allt Coire Mulrooney. Followed stream to squeeze then enlarged to form 3-4 m of linking passage which may sump in wet weather.

A stream sinks near the entrance which is at the lower end of the depression. The horizontally developed entrance series soon ends in a choke with the way on via a short drop into a narrow rift. Here the stream is met again and can be followed upstream for 15 m up a comparitively sporting passage to a waterfall. At the top of this the water emerges from impenetrable cracks.

Back at the the rift, downstream first leads to a wider stretch then after a side loop to a smaller section that descends with the stream and becomes too tight. A side passage 10 m back leads to a deep rift. This after a very sharp elbow bend turns to the right at a junction. With some difficulty, this can be followed to the surface. From the elbow bend another rift heads on to a second junction. Both passages from this point are small and uncomfortable and lead to the stream which soon sumps.

UCLSS thought there might be a connection to Owl Hole from a side passage in Allt Priomh Uamha (Main Stream Cave) but this is now blocked.

Alternative Names: Chomachag (Uamh a'), Uamh a' Chomachag, Chomhachag (Uamh a'), Uamh a' Chomhachag, Chomaichag (Uamh a'), Uamh a' Chomaichag, Chromaichag (Uamh a'), Uamh a' Chromaichag, Sanctuary Cave

Notes: An owl's nest in the willow tree at the upper end of the depression helped name the cave.

For those searching references in the future, this cave has three slight spelling variations of its Gaelic name. In Scotland Underground it is 'Uamh a Chomhaichag', in the Appin Cave Guide it is 'Uamh a'Chomaichag' and in the Appin Cave Guide Supplement (2010 update) it is 'Uamh a' Chromaichag'. In the original UCLSS article (1972), it was only listed as 'Owl Hole'. The correct [Modern?] spelling 'a'Chomhachag' is used here and will be used in the still to be written revision of the Caves of Appin.

The first published Gaelic version of this name, as Uamh a Chomaichag, was by John Tillson (1974) GSG Bulletin, 2nd Series. 1(1) p.29.

The two English names for this cave, Owl Hole and Sanctuary Cave come from the variations in the spelling of the Gaelic names. Uamh a' Chomachag and Uamh a' Chomaichag translate as Cave of the Owl while Uamh a' Chromaichag (one letter different) translates as Cave of the Sanctuary. As the cave was named Owl Hole in the original article, both Uamh a' Chromaichag and its translation Sanctuary Hole are erroneous. Just to further confuse the issue the modern spelling of owl in Gaelic is now given as Chomhachag while Sanctuary is given as Comraich.