Go to the Main Scottish Cave and Mine Database Search Page

Clamshell Cave

Staffa, E side of island, immediately N of landing point., Argyllshire.

Sea Cave. Not accessible at high tide as water fills inlet, cave exposed at low tide although shallow pool remains at entrance, reached by climbing down from jetty to cobble shore or from north of cave walking back along shore. Distinctive curved columns at entrance lead to 32 m of 2-3 m wide and 10-12 m high passage with a rock floor becoming shingle at the back of the cave. Steep sides, sloping outfrom the base of a rift at floor level open out to the full width about 2m from ground. The cave narrows again near the roof. A small oxbow passage is visible at high level to the north of the entrance with a trickle of water falling from the small spring on the surface above the cave.

130 ft long and 30 ft high gradually contracting from width of 17 ft at entrance One side regular basalt columns so curved as to resemble the timbers of a ship, the other a mural face pitted with ends of basaltic columns as to look like the surface of a honeycomb.

Alternative Names: Scallopshell Cave, Maighdeag (An Uamh), An Uamh Maighdeag

Notes: Duncan Butler carried out a brief survey of the cave (19 August 2006). This was followed up by a survey with tape, compass and clino (21 August 2006), carried out by John Crae, Tony Jarratt and Tony Boycott.

Hydrographic Feeds: Sea of the Hebrides