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Mhor (Uamh) [Bholsa]

Islay, Killarrow and Kilmeny, Rhubha Bholsa, Argyllshire.

Raised beach sea cave near the mouth of the Allt na Uaha Moire. Six miles from the nearest road at Rhubha a' Mhill near the Bunnahabhan distillery.

Cave contains deposits and constructions. [Hardy]

Uamh Mhor (Great Cave) - A large cave, the interior of which is divided in compartments by stone walls & and used as a sheepfold. Situated in a small precipice close to the [?] immediately south of Port a' Chotain. In c. 1878, the property of Charles Morrison. [ScotlandsPlaces]

There are several forts built in the isles that are in fresh-water lakes, as in Ilan-Loch-Guirn, and Ilan-Viceain; there is a fort called Dunnivag in the south-west side of the isle, and there are several caves in different places of it. The largest that I saw was in the north end, and is called Vah-Vearnag; it will contain 200 men to stand or sit in it. There is a kill [kiln] for drying corn made on the east side of it; and on the other side there is a wall built close to the side of the cave, which was used for a bed-chamber; it had a fire on the floor, and some chairs about it, and the bed stood close to the wall. There is a stone without the Cave-Door, about which the common People make a Tour Sunways. [Martin Martin]

Alternative Names: Big Cave, Bholsa (Great Cave of), Great Cave of Bholsa, Fhearnaig (Uamh), Uamh Fhearnaig, Vearnag (Vah), Vah Vearnag, Bholsa (Uamh), Uamh Bholsa, Bolsa Cave, Great Cave of Bolsa, Bolsa (Great Cave of)

Notes: Although this is almost certainly the cave referred to as the Great Cave of Bholsa (by the Ordnance Survey), it is a considerable distance east of Mala Bholsa and Rubha Bholsa and about 1/5 km northeast of the farm of Bholsa after which it was named. In the past several other caves in the nearby area have been referred to as the cave of Bholsa (mostly by the uninformed finding any large cave near Bholsa of which there are several and assuming it was the great cave).

There are many spectacular natural arches and largish caves making this stretch of coast well worth a visit but it is remote and if you want to spend any time there you will have to camp overnight. The Great Cave is the largest but is actually easy to distinguish because its entrance is surrounded by sheepfolds.

Hydrographic Feeds: None

Hydrographic Resurgences: None