Uamh na Bantighearna, Kiloran Bay

Nearest town:
Lochgilphead (46km E)
OS reference:
NR404986
OS sheet:
61
Latitude:
56° 6' 33.68 N
Longitude:
6° 10' 33.62 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Uamh na Bantighearna, Kiloran Bay (Cave / Rock Shelter) by rockandy

Close-up of one of the two distinct cup marks in the vertical face of a boulder below the cave. This appears to link the cave to the Neolithic.

Image credit: rockandy
R
rockandy Jun 4, 2005

Articles

Uamh na Bantighearna, Kiloran Bay

R
rockandy Jun 4, 2005

This cave (also called Uamh na Bantighearna or Lady’s Cave) is in the headland on the NE side of Kiloran Bay, one of the most picturesque beaches in the Inner Hebrides (even in the rain). This is the centre-most of three caves, now situated well above the high water mark. Inside, it feels like early man has only just left to find some shellfish in the rock-pools below. Substantial midden remains both inside and outside the cave consist largely of limpet shells. Heres a link with the Colonsay site: Fingal’s Limpet Hammers. A drystone platform lines one side of the cave.

Below the cave a boulder bears two cup-marks carved several meters apart on the vertical SE face, 6cm in diameter and 4cm deep. You pass by this boulder as you ascend to the entrance.

One of the lower caves, Uamh Shiorruidh or Endless Cave showed evidence of its use by people of the Azilian Culture (7000-5000BC).

I had confused this with another nearby, lower cave Uamh Na Mine (see notes by Feagh below).

Miscellaneous

Uamh na Bantighearna, Kiloran Bay
Cave / Rock Shelter
F
Feagh Nov 25, 2006

Uamh na Mine is in fact the lower cave,very wet – slightly to the south. Uamh na Baintighearna was one of a number of sites used as a picnic site by “Lady” McNeill, affording a good view of the sea whilst not exposing her complexion to the sun – hence the cave was “improved” with a stone bench and access stairway (still visible). Of some interest is an extensive collection of cup-marks, directly in front of Uamh na Baintighearna and approached by a set of stone stairs (bottom tread missing); a gully leads onwards to the important well, Tobar Chaluim Chille. It is from here that the other marks came, in a cliff-fall, but additional cupmarks can be found on the hill above Uamh na Baintighearna, a little to the east. All these additional cupmarks were discovered by ornithologist DJ within very recent years and they were not, therefore, recorded in RCAHM Vol. V

Sites within 20km of Uamh na Bantighearna, Kiloran Bay

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