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Bo Dubha (Uamh nam)

Knapdale, Point of Knap, Argyllshire.

A large, dry, low-roofed cave on point of the promontory facing southwest. Hollow stone outside perhaps used as quern. Recently the home of well-known local character, lately dead (c. 1964)., 'Old Tobermory', a 'traveller' who wintered in the cave until his death in 1961. In summer Old Tobermory would take to the roads. Wherever he went in Knapdale and Lorn, there were familiar caves to house him, used in living memory by other wandering solitaries. Old Tobermory used many caves. His favourite was Uamh nam Bo Dubha, Black Cows' Cave, an utterly remote hole at the tip of the peninsula looking southward down the sound of Jura. Old Tobermory was found dead by the road through the Pass of Brander, [Asherson, Stone Voices]

Signs of recent occupation and intermittent activity for the last 9000 years. 24ft wide at the drip line reducing to 11 ft at a third of the way inin line. Floor hard packed earth, rock deep middens and and [reekie?] deposits. At rear wall, a small cleak leads a further 15 tft. A massive rock fall across the entrance roughly revetted on the inside. Washed out by sea post-glacial transgression leaving raised beach deposits at the base of the midden stratigraphy. Ash deposits and faint cut marks on the wall suggest domestic to ritual occupation. Exposed midden material and test pitting includes marine molluscs (whelk limpet and periwinkle) and animal bones (Lynx, poduct, PC and lemming) worked red deer bones and antlers, pig bone fragments. Some evidence of light industrial activity with the possible use of a boulder as an anvil. Modern debris includes a bicycle wheele, linoleum fragments and pieces of packing crates. [Winnett]

Alternative Names: Black Cows (Cave of the), Old Tobermory's Cave

Notes: Although the coordinates given place this cave in Dalradian Supergroup - Metabasalt it is close to the boundary with an exposed area of Ardrishaig Phyllite Formation - Semipelite, Calcareous.

See also Monroe, H.H. (aka Tobermory Saki), Tales of Clovis, 1912 - a British writer and journalist who died in the first world war. Cornelius Appin teaches a cat, old 'Tobermory' to talk.

Hydrographic Feeds: None

Hydrographic Resurgences: None