Go to the Main Scottish Cave and Mine Database Search Page

Lùb na Lice Cave [Islay]

NE Islay, Argyllshire.

Cave marked on OS 10 k background mapping, about 200 m south of the trig point at Rubha a' Mhaill, at the south end of the rocky foreshore at Lùb na Lice. there is relatively easy access along the raised beach from the track leading from the Rhuvaal lighthouse to the jetty or landing stage at Rubha a' Mhail.

- - -

Cave above distinctive coastal rock slabs, north of a minor burn with easy access. Just beyond the 2 m wide, 1.5 m high, entrance the roof is open to the sky for a couple of metres and beyond that a low shingle floored passage leads to the end. [Caves of Islay]

Alternative Names: Lub na Lice

Notes: Cave recorded by Graham Little. Coordinates given do not align with any recognizable feature on aerial photographs.

The cave is named for the distinctive flat slabs of the foreshore to the north. Lùb na Lice appears on the earliest maps of the area referring to the foreshore. The cave does not appear on the earliest maps only on modern maps.

Lùb or Lùib na Lice translates literally to "The Bend of the Flat Stone" or "The Curve of the Slab."

The grave or sloping accent above the 'u' is important to distinguish between 'Lub' meaning pudding or pool and 'Lùb' meaning bend. Although 'Lùb' can also be used to mean curve, coil, hobble (a physical twist of rope used to restrain horses), stitch (in knitting), eddy, meander (a bend or twist in a river), young man or trick. All except the last two are obviously to do with the shape of the object being described and a trick could be described as a twist in the expectations. The use of 'Lùb' for young man is unexplained.

Lùb Dhubh or Black Curve is used interchangeably with Lub Dhubh meaning Black Pudding (or Blood Sausage) so even the pudding meaning is derived from the curved shape of a sausage.

Hydrographic Feeds: None

Hydrographic Resurgences: None