Walk: Bone Caves - limestone, lynx & leeches

Highland | Assynt | Short walk | ★★★★

[Bone Caves]

Tens of thousands of years ago Scotland was home to an array of much bigger beasts than the ones you'll find today. A row of caves high above the Allt nan Uamh near Inchnadamph have provided rich pickings for old animal bones: the remains of lynx, brown bear, reindeer, Arctic fox and even polar bear have all been discovered here in recent decades, alongside human skeletons dating to a mere few thousand years ago. The caves themselves are fairly roomy inside and two are even connected by a natural passageway. The approach along the glen is quite straightforward and, thanks to the limestone rock type, passes a large spring (and other smaller ones) where most of the valley's water bubbles up from underground.

[Two of the cave entrances]

📌 Walk: Bone Caves - limestone, lynx & leeches ★★★★
▶ 5 km / 3 miles | ▲ 210 metres
Features: Fuaran Allt nan Uamh (spring); Bone Caves
Start / finish: Car park on A837 3 miles south of Inchnadamph, G.R.: NC 253179 ///weekends.active.indulges

Route: Car park - Fuaran Allt nan Uamh - keep left at path junction at G.R.: NC 265173 - cross (usually dry) Allt nan Uamh at G.R.: NC 270171 - Bone Caves - earlier path junction - return by outward route
Terrain: Good paths with just a few narrow or steep sections near the caves and rare boggy parts.
Wildlife today: No lynx any more, but lots of frogs, bees, magpie moths; shrimp and leech in the spring.
Weather today: Dry with sunny intervals and light winds.

[Approaching the caves]

Route map

Route credit: Walkhighlands

More photos

[Looking back along the lower glen]

[Fuaran Allt nan Uamh (spring)]

[Leech at the spring]

[Magpie moth]

[Wildflowers on the valley floor]

[Bone caves from below]

[Traversing the valley side to reach the caves]

[Good views along the glen in both directions from the caves]

[Another cave entrance]

[View from inside]