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Knock Ulinish Souterrain

Skye, Ulinish, Knock Ulinish, Invernessshire.

On rough, rocky moorland about 400 yards west of the junction, where the road to Ullinish Lodge branches off from the Dunvegan and Struanmore Road, is a partly destroyed earth-house. The surviving portion consists of a straight narrow passage running roughly NE-SW, the side walls formed of good drystone building and the roof of stone lintels covered by about 1' of soil. The gallery measures 18' in length, and where entered at the SW end 4' in height and 2'7" in width, broadening to 3' about 6' farther in. The walls converge inwards slightly towards the top. There are indications that the southern continuation has taken a distinct curve towards the S. The inner end of the structure has possibly taken the form of an oval or circular chamber, as there is a deep hollow surrounded by displaced stones at the northern end of the passage. This portion is obscure, and there are numerous remains of old houses and enclosures adjoining it. [Canmore]

From the Dun [Dun Mor], we were conducted to another place of security, a cave carried a great way under ground, which had been discovered by digging after a fox. These caves, of which many have been found, and many probably remain concealed, are formed, I believe, commonly by taking advantage of a hollow, where banks or rocks rise on either side. If no such place can be found, the ground must be cut away. The walls are made by piling stones against the earth, on either side. It is then roofed by larger stones laid across the cavern, which therefore cannot be wide. Over the roof, turfs were placed, and grass was suffered to grow; and the mouth was concealed by bushes, or some other cover. These caves were represented to us as the cabins of the first rude inhabitants, of which, however, I am by no means persuaded. This was so low, that no man could stand upright in it. By their construction they are all so narrow, that two can never pass along them together, and being subterraneous, they must be always damp. They are not the work of an age much ruder than the present; for they are formed with as much art as the construction of a common hut requires. I imagine them to have been places only of occasional use, in which the Islander, upon a sudden alarm, hid his utensils, or his cloaths, and perhaps sometimes his wife and children. This cave we entered, but could not proceed the whole length, and went away without knowing how far it was carried. For this omission we shall be blamed, as we perhaps have blamed other travellers; but the day was rainy, and the ground was damp. We had with us neither spades nor pickaxes, and if love of ease surmounted our desire of knowledge, the offence has not the invidiousness of singularity. [Boswell]

Alternative Names: None recorded.