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Oir (Uamh an) [Loch Gairloch]

Loch Gairloch, between Port Henderson & Opinan, Ross & Cromarty.

Uaimh an Òir or the Cave of the Gold (according to Wentworth with additional information from Isobel la Croix) is a cave in the sea cliffs, about 300m north of Camas an Fheòir. Location given is on the shore a short distance north of Uamh nam Frieceadain which has been assumed to be on the headland Sron na Carra immediately to the north. However the description is vague and could refer to the cave of the same name north of N Erradale.

There are two branches to the cave but each is only a few yards in depth because of rock fall within the last 100 years. Dixon also described this cave but said that the entrance was 'fine' and that the left-hand branch could be followed for about 40 yards.

'A short distance to the north of this place [Uamh an Fhreicadain] there is on the seashore a large cave, which is worth a visit ; it is called Uamh an Oir. It has a fine entrance ; it branches of" right and left ; the branch to the left can be followed for about forty yards, that to the right is not so deep.' (John H. Dixon)

Alternate Names: None recorded.

Notes: Camas an Fheòir is a small bay whose name means 'creek of the grass' (OSR), to the south of Port Henderson.

One story is that a piper once entered it and the sound of his piping could be heard east of the village of Opinan and the last time it was heard was as far away as Torridon! There are many tales about such caves which were connected to each other by underground passages and which were said to contain gold. Pipers and followers attempted to find such treasure with their music being heard from miles away.

Isobel la Croix, when she lived in Opinan as a child, was told about this cave between Opinan and Port Henderson. She often walked along that bit of coast but could never see it. It can only be seen from a boat or from the shore at low tide. Isobel had been told that the cave went right under the sea and came out at Melvaig (on the peninsular to the north of Gairloch) and that a group of pipers went into it and were never seen again.

One resident used to refer to the cave as the Golden Cave.

Also parents used to tell their children that a piper once led a party of children into the cave and they were never seen again. If any child went alone into the cave the same fate would happen.