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Eighe (Pol)

Assynt, Traligill, Glenbain, Sutherland.

To reach the GPS coordinates given above, from the northwest corner of the surviving main block of trees in the L-shaped plantation (not the original northern corner) head about 30 m southwest. There is no cave or shakehole at this precise location but the coordinates are relatively accurate. Pol Eighe C is about 5 m west. For the description of the cave see Pol Eighe C.

From the tourist car park near Inchnadamph Hotel, cross to the north side of the river and follow the footpath eastward via Glenbain Cottage past a large drystone enclosure and a corrugated iron barn, then up a dry stream bed to the northern edge of an L-shaped plantation. The cave entrance is approximately 25 m west of the western corner of the fence [possibly, if you have reached and recognized the right corner and mistaken both the distance and direction. The northern part of the plantation was much denuded in 1989 and more so in 2022 (due to damage caused by high winds) and parts of the fence have collapsed]. When last visited, there was one isolated tree at the corner of the original plantation and a small hole about 10 m to the west, see Pol Eighe E.

Alternate Names: Pol Eighe, File Pot, File Hole, Ice Hole, Pol Eigghe, Watertie (watertight) Hole

Notes: The Traligill Basin part of the Ben More Assynt Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The Gaelic name 'Pol Eighe', can translate into English either as 'File Hole' or 'Ice Hole'. In Scots Gaelic, Pol means lively stream . Poll means hole or deep pool. When originally found there were icicles at the entrance. Pronounced Pol Ay, the Gaelic 'Pol Eighe' translates literally as 'Hole of the File' from 'eighe' meaning file or eagheachan meaning peat cutter (the instrument/tool not the person). 'File Hole' is the translation favoured by the GSG and is used most often, as it supposedly relates to the roughness of the main passage although Pete Dowswell claims the name was chosen just because it sounded like 'Polly'.

Another translation of Pol Eighe is 'Ice Hole', literally 'Cave of the Ice' which derives from the genitive or possessive of 'eigh' meaning 'ice' although this translation is less likely as the cave was discovered in summer. File Pot appears in only one reference and does not adequately describe the cave.

Pol Eigghe appears to be a misspelling. No information on 'Watertie?' Hole.

For some reason Bing maps shows Glenbain Cottage with a tab saying Inchnadamph Lodge.

Hydrographic Feeds: Small stream on north side of Glen

Hydrographic Resurgences: Stream feeds into Traligill River