Walk: Uamh Oir - Fingal's Cave in miniature

Skye | Trotternish | Short walk | ★★★★

[Views towards the Western Isles from the cave entrance]

Translating as Cave of Gold (perhaps after the yellow lichen here?), luckily this peaceful spot is easier to reach than it is to pronounce in Gaelic. Like Fingal's Cave - its famous bigger brother on Staffa - perfect basalt columns surround the narrow opening, with shags usually populating nearby outcrops. You can't usually get inside (nor is it safe), but the setting is a bigger draw than the cave itself: views of the Western Isles interrupted by the odd fishing boat or dolphin, if you're lucky. An iron-age broch (Dun Bornaskitaig) can be visited with just a small detour, which also reveals lovely views south to Camas Mor. This is an unfairly neglected corner of Skye.

[Shags frequent the area around the cave]

📌 Walk: Uamh Oir - Fingal's Cave in miniature ★★★★
Start / finish at car park at minor road end north of Bornesketaig, Skye, G.R.: NG 378717 ///spices.worthy.unravel

▶ 2 km / 1 mi | ▲ 70 m | ⌚ Short walk | ⬤ Moderate
Features: Uamh Oir; Dun Bornaskitaig
Terrain: First few metres churned up by cattle, then mostly pathless clifftops on short grass. Steep descent on grass to the shore and cave could be slippery when wet.

Route & map

Car park - Uamh Oir via coast cliff top (fence post attached to a large rock shows where to descend) - Dun Bornaskitaig - return by outward route. Access was OK on our visit, but there have apparently been issues in the past.


Route credit: Walkhighlands (modified)

On our visit

Wildlife: Hangout of shags near the cave, plus some other seabirds.
Weather: Moderate wind, pleasant sunny spells, temperature in mid-teens.

[Looking east from the cliff top section]

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