King's Cave

King's Cave (Scottish Gaelic: Uamh an Rìgh) is the largest of a series of seafront caves north of Blackwaterfoot on the Isle of Arran in Scotland.[1] The caves were formed when melting glaciers resulted in a raised beach due to a process called isostatic rebound.[2] Kilmory Parish church records suggest the cave may have been used for church meetings in the eighteenth century,[3] and it is also said to have been used as a school.[3] Before being known as the King's Cave it was known as Fingal's Cave after Fionn mac Cumhaill.[4]

King's Cave (on the left) and other caves on Arran's south-west coast

King’s Cave
Fingal's Cave
LocationIsle of Arran
OS gridNR8836330937
Coordinates55°31′34.3″N 5°21′12.5″W
Entrances1
Accessvia public footpath

The current name of the cave is linked to the legend of Robert the Bruce seeking refuge in a cave where he is said to have been inspired by watching a spider's numerous and ultimately successful attempts to build a web,[5][6] but this story is widely considered apocryphal.[7]

In January 1909, an archeological dig was conducted within the cave.[3] A 32 foot long trench was dug and examined, but aside from a small bronze ornament and some animal bones nothing of interest was found, so the dig was halted on the fourth day.[3]

References
  1. "King's Cave - Forestry and Land Scotland". Scottish Government. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  2. "Cave's of Great Britain: King's Cave". Show Caves. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  3. J. A. Balfour, ed. (1910). The Book of Arran.
  4. Thomas Pennant (1772). A Tour in Scotland and Voyage to the Hebrides.
  5. "King's Caves". Mysterious Britain & Ireland. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  6. "King's Cave, Isle of Arran". Info Britain. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  7. "Bruce's Cave". BBC. Retrieved 12 August 2021.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.