Go to the Main Scottish Cave and Mine Database Search Page

Ramadale Cave [3] [Lewis]

Rubha Ramadail, Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Ross & Cromarty.

Sea caves, two shown on OS map [probably caves 1 & 3].

Canmore's aerial photograph shows [1] a long low arch over shallow water at the coordinates given. Estimated 8-10 m wide, 6-8 m high, depth unknown.

Canmore's aerial photograph also shows [2] a long low arch over open water at NB 48420 31310 . Estimated 4-5 m wide and 2-3 m high between two inter-tidal rock ridges.

The third cave at or near NB 48505 31350 may be the cave in an incident in 1971 mentioned by the Stornoway Gazette.

It was a fine late March day in 1971 and John Angus Macdonald, then eight years of age, was fishing from the rocks with his brother at Ramadale, close to his home in Swordale. ​Then John Angus took a step too far. He was in the sea and the tide carried him into a shingly cave. He didn't have the strength to fight his way out and went under again and again. His brother, Murdo Dan who was a year older, ran for help. By the grace of God, it was round the corner.

Alasdair Macleod, then 18, takes up the story: "An old bodach [man] and I from Swordale were on the shore that day gathering razor fish as it was an exceptionally low Spring tide. "That's really what saved John Angus as there was a pebbly beach below the cliff which is only exposed at Spring tides. Otherwise we would not have been there and he would have drowned". Alasdair plunged into the sea and rescued the boy.

Alternative Names: None recorded.

Notes: See also Ramadale Cave [2] [Lewis], NB 48420 31310 and Ramadale Cave [3] [Lewis], NB 48505 31350.

The point where the cave is located has been called either Rubha Ramadail, Gob Ramadail or Ramadale Point. Ramh is translated as Oar. Dale is usually taken to mean valley but in Gaelic may mean field. Hence Field of Oars.