Go to the Main Scottish Cave and Mine Database Search Page

Cuil Dhuibh Sinks

Assynt, Traligill, Cuil Dubh, Sutherland.

A fairly large river [Allt a' Bhealaich from Bhealaich Traligill or outfall from lochan? Actually neither] flowing westwards over plateau beneath Breabag enters a blind valley. Cuil Dubh (Black Hollow) sinks where a small cliff is sub-divided by an extensive collapse. The collapse has effectively blocked the main entrance to the system, and water now drains through a choke on the left. Clearance of rocks above the sink leads to hole about 5 m deep. At the bottom of the boulder choke, it is possible to enter narrow fissure at right angles to flow. Water seeps through peat blockages and narrow fissures. No obvious way on.

On right of the basin, a dig at foot of an unstable cliff (currently blocked and unsafe) gives access to a flat crawl for about 3 m to small chamber, about 2.5 m long and 1 m high. In the floor, a rift drops 2 m to a boulder strewn floor. Progress is possible back towards entrance for 7 m. About 5 m below the entrance, a blasted fissure gives access to a final chamber, 2 m by 3 m in size, formed by the sagging of a block of limestone when the cliff above collapsed. This is choked at the far end by a talus slope. A stream issues from the base of the slope (from a wet sink not far distant) and flows into a low tunnel running back north under the entry fissure. This becomes too tight after a couple of metres. A sump pool was probed by divers in 1969. This was choked by large shingle and silt deposits at depth of 6 m.

The dry entrance is silted up and blocked by rock falls from above. It will require several hours of digging (over several trips) to gain entry, although the cliff above seems finally to be relatively stable. The position of the entrance is supposedly indicated by a vertical scaffold bar which however may have since been buried. Entry has not been made for a considerable time.

Alternate Names: Cuil Dubh Sinks, Black Hollow Sinks, Black Corner Sinks

Notes: Geograph - 'Black Corner'.

Dwelly's Gaelic Dictionary - a corner, or nook, or any retired, obscure, or private place.

Gaelic Names of Beasts (Mamallia), Birds, etc. , p. 48. Cuil Dubh - CuiL-DUBH, a beetle.

Although the term Black Hollow applies to the whole area, it could just as easily be applied to the deep hollow where the surface stream disappears into the limestone and where banks of dark peat have built up. In extreme wet weather the entire hollow fills with water and overflows into the adjacent dry valley and north towards Uamh na Doinean (Storm Cave).

Hydrographic Feeds: Cuil Dubh Catchment

Hydrographic Resurgences: River Traligil