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Campbell's Cave [Allt nan Uamh]

Assynt, Alt Nan Uamh, An Claonaite, Sutherland.

Cave entrance, discovered by GSG members, Mark Campbell and Roger Galloway, as a free flowing (wet weather only) surface stream running into a gravel hole at the bottom of a large shakehole. The cave was re-named after Mark Campbell, who died suddenly in 2007 of a severe asthma attack.

Approximately 100 metres upstream of Uamh an Claonaite, on the left hand (north) side of the valley is a 3 m deep shakehole on the dolostone boundary with two tiny streams sinking into it (although dry when being dug). Martin Hayes, Roger Galloway & John Crae spent some time digging this site in July 2007 & at depth of 2 m revealed a small passage some 2-300 mm high extending about 3 m. Grids were installed to shore up the loose and dangerous sides of the shakehole. Originally named 4 Humps Cave - the name deriving from 4 small mounds on the moor above the cave. Theories as to origins of these mounds range from Mesolithic boundary markers to the more likely use by Victorian deer hunters.

When originally found the 3-4 m deep shakehole was taking a considerable flow into a small hole below a tiny cliff. Much extraction of gravel opened a short crawl but repeated flooding washed in more gravel and little progress made. Large scale digging (and a semi-industrial hauling rig) eventually cleared the entrance to form a 9 m deep pot descending almost out of daylight southwards along a wide fault. The north wall of the pot is unstable and the rock and gravel has been reinforced with a steeply sloping retaining wall of larger rocks. The west wall has a sucession of undercuts , some producing moderately sized chambers. From the floor of the pot (large boulders, mud & gravel), digging continued intermittently into what appears to be the top of a debris cone (with small voids appearing to the left and right) but the main focus of digging was on the side passages which descended down the east side of the cone into wide but low voids at about 45 degrees between the sloping roof of the pot and the gravel slope. The impression is of a cone of debris filling a large chamber leaving only small voids near the overhanging ceiling.

Eventually by digging away the floor, the east side of the 'chamber' was reached (extending back along the side of the boulder pile at the entrance) and eyeholes in the rock opened into a small network of tight tubes, all continuing vaguely downwards and east. A muddy dip at the base of one tube emerged into a wider north-south passage/chamber again floored with rocks, mud & gravel. To the south a bank of mud and rocks could be excavated but would probably connect to the previously dug and infilled passage to the south. The east wall drops into a shallow pond with some void but no obvious way on. The digging effort was concentrated northwards where water appeared to drain. A parallel passage from the muddy dip lead along another low tube prone to flooding to an awkward dig face. This passage however lead back under the rocks at the entrance and at that point the unstable nature of the entrance slope made it impractical to continue digging.

Having reached the level of standing water at the base of the dig, it was unpleasant going and only small quantities of spoil could be removed from a dig face for a single digger increasingly further from the entrance. A large hauling team was required to make less and less progress and it seemed likely the way on was below the rubble slope at the entrance meaning several tonnes of rock would have to be cleared to proceed safely. As less and less work was being carried out, it was decided to abandon the dig.

Alternative Names: Humps Hole, 4 Humps Cave, Four Humps Cave

Notes: The dimensions given are approximate and include the original shakehole the sides of which were modified to stabilize the cave entrance. The shakehole appears to have been formed by a roof collapse above a substantial underground chamber, infilled with glacial deposits. Despite digging in various directions the exit route for sinking water was not found.

It is likely the stream that sinks here may emerge in 'The Igloo' in Claonaite Two, more than 300 m away. This has not yet been proven.

Slow progress was being made (c. 2018) on the removal of the digging equipment from the surface and this ground to a halt during Covid (c. 2019). A concentrated effort should be made (2023) to remove the equipment either to other dig sites or back to the GSG's base in Elphin.

Hydrographic Feeds: Intermittent surface streams.

Hydrographic Resurgences: Allt nan Uamh.