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Claig-ionn (Uamh an) [Glen Stockdale]

Appin, Bealach, Glen Stockdale, Argyllshire.

Cave. Conspicuous sink with tree 10 m up E side of Glen Stockdale 100 m from forestry road. Entrance crawl & pitches sporting or impassable in wet weather. 3 m climb from entrance gully or wriggle through one of two grassy holes to passage lowering to flat out crawl through eyehole. 6 m crawl then floor drops to small chamber where passage doubles back under itself to head of first pitch Tube ahead too tight after 4 m. Entrance crawl extended to 3.5 m pitch down into blind chamber with impassible rift to bottom of 1st pitch. Belay ladder to floor of crawl (5m ladder, 4 m belay, 10 m lifeline). 3M free climb from foot of ladder to streamway from Mnathan Uasal an Durar (also accessible by narrow rift behind foot of ladder). Downstream passage heightens and scramble over phylite, limestone blocks to 2nd pitch (Poppleton Pot) -12 m ladder, 4 m belay, 30 m lifeline). Belay to block on left & over pillar to right. Climb well watered by inlet above. Drop onto cobbles with large dry ledge to right. Narrowing rift to left leads to House of Cards where large phyllite flakes are poised overhead. High level route above flakes. Beyond is 3rd pitch (Dealer's Drop - 6 m ladder, 2 m belay to block in floor, 15 m lifeline), into high wide rift (Aardvark's Bathtub). Short traverse to 4th pitch (Chest Pot - 9m ladder, short spreader belayed to eyebolt in left wall, 25 m lifeline), tight but widens to land beside waterfall in sandy rift chamber. Water flows under left wall into low aqueous 2 m crawl (may need cleared) then 10 m of larger passage ends at Sump One. Sump One, variable 2-5 m NOT free dive. Claig-ionn [2] 40 m long. 20 m crawl over mud banks to low airspace canal. After 5 m enlarges to walking size for 12 m. Sump Two beyond 3 m long pool. Sump Two, dived for 5m, way on still clear.

Jim Salvona's Notes 1978-1979, p.3.

Alternate Names: Uamh an Claig-ionn, Claigionn (Uamh nan), Uamh nan Claigionn, Skulls (Cave of the), Cave of the Skulls

Notes: Claig-ionn [1 ] explored GSG 1977. Extended 1978.

Fatality 1978, due to hypothermia. Ditch dug during rescue attempt to divert stream.