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Heidbanger Hole

Assynt, An Claonaite, Sutherland.

Thence to the appropriately named new cave, Heidbanger Hole. A loose, dug pit leads to a foul crawl in peat mud leading to a large phreatic bedding passage liberally coated with black slime. We followed this to the upstream sump, noting that downstream the water flows away into a tiny bedding plane. Had a look at a couple of uninspiring side passages both of which could go with a bit of work. Not too impressed by the cave though it is roomy in places and would be quite attractive if the filthy peat deposits were washed away! We came out looking like three heaps of black jelly but managed to wash most of it off in a tiny, sphagnum moss lined lochan. [JRat]

Toll Fear a' Chradh Chinn or Heidbanger Hole is located on the south side of the first spacious grassy depression 'up valley' of Uamh an Claonaite. The entrance was excavated in 1989-1990 but was always under threat from water rising up out of the hole causing a collapse. By 2022, it had been sealed for at least 20 years. A sinkhole to the north of the depression (possibly associated with it) opened up to reveal limestone but no passage. After descending 2 m through an excavated depression, a small cavity led to a low crawl on to the left (Crainial Crawl) which extended 4 m past rubble before dropping into a spacious rift where it was possible to stand up. Here peat covered boulders rose up to a point beyond the south side of the depression and probably above the level of the entrance dig. The main passage turned right and ran for 9 m to a short climb. A few metres along on the right a blind crawl could be followed for 5 m and appeared to connect back to below the entrance but was thoroughly choked. Above the climb, the cave became a low, wide thrust plane, dipping to the right, covered in soft mud and pools of standing water. After 5 m, a continuation of the dip (Deep Throat) silted up at the base, could be forced until it became too tight. Continuing along the main passage, an inlet stream cleaned the floor to reveal a scalloped rock surface. The water drained down-dip at a point too tight to enter and was presumed to flow into the unexplored upper Claonaite streamway. The noise of running water appeared to be coming from beyond the visible end of this drain. After another 10 m, the cave passage turned sharp right into a fissure, almost chest deep in standing water, crossed a small chamber and after surmounting a large boulder, the way on reduced to a triangular crawl which turned sharply left and sumped 3 m further on. This sump was not investigated but seemed more spacious underwater. Leading off on the left from the small chamber, an inlet passage (Digestive Tract) ascended a gravel slope before it became a hands and knees crawl for 20 m to where the roof lowered and further progress was impossible. The way on turned right at the far end and widened with a barely perceptible draught. This point was well beyond the sump and might repay digging if access is ever regained.

Alternative Names: Fear a' Chradh Chinn (Toll), Toll Fear a' Chradh Chinn

Notes: Toll Fear a' Chradh Chinn - Hole of the Man with a Head Pain. Literal translation (probably not very accurate) [toll - hole, fear - a man, a' - of the, cràdh - pain, chinn - head].

The running water is probably from a sink at the foot of Creag Liath but the whole system might well be an oxbow to the main Clainaite drainage.

Hydrographic Feeds: An Claonaite

Hydrographic Resurgences: Uamh an Clainaite