Go to the Main Scottish Cave and Mine Database Search Page

High Pasture Cave

Skye, Coille Gaireallach, Invernessshire.

Cave. Entrance is small shaft (covered over) 25 m north of obvious stream sink in valley west of Coille Gaireallach woods. Choked hole midway between stream sink & entrance shaft is High Pasture Cave.

Climb through stabilized boulder ruckle leads down to stream passage. Upstream water emerges from impassible low bedding but downstream hands & knees crawl enlarges to walking height. After 40 m dry passage emerges on right. Runs south 15 m to total choke. Many calcited bones in floor (excaved by S. Birch). Downstream easy walk to junction. Dry high level route continues straight for 20 m through pool to calcited choke. On right, streamway lowering to crawl descends to large pool. Way on is easy duck on left to more stooping height passage with knee deep pools cut by 2 small igneous dykes. Third junction leads to old high level route on left. Well decorated 18 m of dry passage up to calcited choke c. 5 m from upstream passage. Down streamway short stretch of easy walking leads to head of 3 m waterfall over another dyke. Simple climb down into high rift passage. Roomy in parts, from time to time dividing into upper & lower levels, gradually decreasing in size and re-uniting before 4 m high, 3 m wide, terminal chamber. Ends in boulder choke very close to surface. (2nd entrance cold be dug?). Stream flows into small sump under left wall with narrow wet rift further left running 6 m to choke. Final sump 140 m from entrance, on line to rising 294 m away. Connection proven by fluoroscein test in May 1973, flow time in wet conditions 8 hours.

Probable cave stream resurged at foot of dry waterfall below terminal chamber and remainder of present underground course relatively recent development. Irregular depressions (with more rubbish tips) below dry waterfall hold little promise of accessible passage below. Nearer rising stream again seen underground in Uamh Ghlionne Bhriste in small immature passages. Multiphase development in Uamh an Ard Achadh of special interest needs geomorphological study. Total passage length 320 m 2nd longest cave on Skye. Abundance of rubbish spoils sporting & attractive cave. Gloves & knee pads essential. Care should be taken in Lower Passage below 3 m waterfall where sections of walls are shattered & loose.

Alternative Names: Uamh an Ard Achadh, Tin Can Alley, Ard Achadh (Uamh an)

Notes: Dug out & explored by UCLSS in 1972. Temporary name of Tin Can Alley due amount of debris in streamway (name retained for entrance passage).

Rough survey by UCLSS (Sanders, 1973).)

Survey to BCRA grade 5c by MSG (Ryder, 1974).

2005-2008 Major clean up of surface & entrance passage. Archaeological investigation of side passage and surface features directly above. Ritual deposit of animal bones mainly pig and human burials in stair passage from surface.

Updated coordinates.

[Update of bibliography required]