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Sir Robert's Stable Cave

Covesea, Lossiemouth, Moray.

The Laird's Stable, a cavern, which, once the abode of a hermit, was used as a stable by Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstown during the '45.

A raised beach sea cave in wide recess in cliffs south-west of Gow's Castle.

The Laird's Stable is a small cave with evidence for early modern construction in the form of a blocking wall of mortared stone across its entrance, and a built doorway (with jambs for a timber door) with window above. An artificially-carved stone bench on the west side of the interior may have been constructed at the same time as these entrance features, while several slabs, visible on the surface on the east side of the interior prior to excavation, appear to represent the remains of a laid floor that has subsequently been robbed out. The cave interior is divided into two main sections, comprising a relatively open entrance area and a low, narrow rear passage accessible only by crawling. Recent disturbance is evident, notably a long, linear trench that has removed most of the deposits within the passage. Animal bone eroded from the unconsolidated sections has returned a Roman Iron Age date of AD 138 - 344 (SUERC-69728).

Excavation and terrestrial laser scanning were undertaken, 11 - 14 June 2018, as part of the Covesea Caves Project. Four small trenches were excavated, two targeting disturbed areas in the rear passage, and two investigating the early modern structures towards the front of the cave.

Trenches 1 and 2, in the rear passage (each around 1m2), revealed beach gravels overlain by a clay deposit that appears to have been levelled by paving in the central part of Trench 2; this was associated with several boar's tusks that may have been deliberately deposited. The original extent of the paving is impossible to reconstruct due to widespread recent disturbance.

Trench 3 (c3m North/South by 2m East/West) exposed the early modern paving and revealed that it was set into a deep layer of sterile sand. Trench 4 (c1.8m N/S by 0.6m East/West), located at the cave entrance, demonstrated that the present threshold, formed of an irregular series of stone steps, is a secondary feature apparently inserted to allow access into the cave following a period of cliff-fall which had raised the exterior ground surface. This appears to explain the informal construction of this threshold relative to the well-built, mortared entrance wall. [Canmore]

Alternative Names: Laird's Stable Cave

Notes: The name comes from the story that Sir Robert Gordon, an ardent supporter of Bonnie Prince Charlie, used them to stable his horses during the 1745 Jacobite rising.

This name applies to a cave situated about one hundred feet above the high water mark in the centre of a half circle of perpendicular cliffs. It has a regular built entrance with a square lookout hole on the eastern side and one above the doorway. The cave runs about thirty feet backwards and gets narrower and lower as it recedes. It is about fourteen feet wide at the entrance by about twelve high and has a rude stone bench cut out of the solid rock on the western side. Sir Robert Gordon, son of Sir Robert the Wizard, concealed his horse in it during the rebellion of 1746 from which cause it is still called Sir Robert's Stables. [Scotland's Places]

Behind the Gull's Castle (Gow's Castle ), grassy hillocks nestle round the base of an amphitheatre of rock, and, well-concealed by these , a low artificially-squared entrance marks a small cave known as Sir Robert's stable- a well-founded tradition being that here in the days of Jacobite trouble, Sir Robert Gordon was in the habit of concealing his best horses, so that when "the Rebels came to Gordonstoun to requisition his steeds, they found only common cart horses." The stable cave is now merely a dark, damp place, very different from most of the neighbouring breezy caves, daily washed by the green waves ; but it was then probably in better order. The front was artificially built up, so as to leave only a small doorway with a peep-hole above the door, from which watchers within could guard the approach in times of danger - only the hinges of the old door now remain. According to tradition, there was in those days an underground passage thence all the way to Gordonstoun House - a full mile - but if such ever existed, all trace of it has long since become impassable. It was not for live stock only that the cave afforded a secure hiding-place. In those days when smuggling was so much in fashion, the facilities offered by such a shore as this were not likely to be overlooked. Consequently even among old family documents of some of the neighbouring gentry, letters have been found proving very plainly how many lovers of good wine, brandy, and tobacco, profited by all chances of landing their share of cargoes which had contrived to elude the obnoxious excise duties. [Cumming]

Altitude is Above Chart Datum and a visual estimate by N Feilden. The 100 ft mentioned above is 'above high tide' but not vertically, more along the path.

Hydrographic Feeds: None

Hydrographic Resurgences: None