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Creag Dhearg Cave

Durness, Sutherland.

Dive report, Simon Brooks 02/05/24:

"Dive done on a falling tide with water some 1.5m above MSL. At NC 414 677, where a green fishing net is draped down the cliff, an alcove was encountered measuring 2m x 5m & going back into cliff for some 5m - not really a cave.

Further along the cliff at NC 415 678 there were some underwater pinnacles rising from the seabed at -8m to -3m on the far side of these the Creag Ruadh caves were found; these are just subtidal.

Main cave, a fissure on a bearing of 130 degrees is 2m wide & some 4m high & runs into the cliff narrowing for at least 20m. Walls adorned with sea anemones & algae with passage extending upwards at the end. Very significant swell pushed Simon into passage & almost pulled helmet & lights off & jammed him in passage.

Somewhat perpendicular to this was another passage 1m x 4m, sloping rift that went into cliff for some 12-15m on a bearing of 210 degrees. In this area are several large undercuts & alcoves that are sizeable, up to 8m wide by 4m high, that are cave like. The first cave mentioned is most certainly associated with the blow hole on the cliff above."

Alternative Names: Creag Ruadh Cave

Notes: A cave featured at this site on the 1961 edition of the 1:10,000 OS map, but has been omitted from newer versions. The escarpment is named Creag Dhearg on early OS maps, but appears as Creag Ruadh on more recent versions (both names meaning 'reddened cliff'). The older name has been used here to avoid potential confusion with the separate Creag Ruadh cliff escarpment further east at Leirinmore.

Hydrographic Feeds: Sango Bay