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Flowstone Column Cave [Islay]

Islay, Port a' Chotain, Bagh an da Dhoruis, Argyllshire.

Raised beach sea cave.

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Cave, test & shovel pitted, contains archaeological deposits. Preliminary shovel pit in shell midden extended into test pit. Shell midden contained many fish & animal bones. No cultural material recovered. [Islay Caves Project]

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10.5 m wide, 4 m high entrance. Access easy.

The cave has a wide rather imposing entrance. The initial few metres are wet and muddy and beyond that the floor is littered with limpet and winkle shells plus a variety of bones. At 18 m in, where the cave narrows and the roofline drops, there is a flowstone column on the left. At 24 m in, there is a thick stubby stalagmite. The final few metres are a crawl. [Caves of Islay]

Alternative Names: Lòn na Cnuasachd (1)

Notes: The name 'Flowstone Column Cave' comes from Graham Little, 2026. Recorded as Lòn na Cnuasachd (1) by Islay Caves project, 2002.

Lòn na Cnuasachd seems to translate as the lawn or meadow of collection (gathering/harvesting) or refection (pondering or thinking deeply). Although 'lòn' could also be pool or puddle, these seem unlikely when applied to an area of moorland.

Hydrographic Feeds: None

Hydrographic Resurgences: None