Smoo Cave: Complete Visitor Guide

Summary

Smoo Cave near Durness has one of the largest sea cave entrances in Britain. The main cavern is 50 feet high and spreads out in an impressive cathedral-like space that features an opening that takes visitors across a subterranean pool and a waterfall.

Discover everything you need to know about Smoo Cave with this complete visitor guide.

The highlights

1: You can visit for free if you choose not to take the tour but I seriously recommend you join it as it only costs a few pounds and looking around the inner chamber is a fascinating experience.

2: The cave is a memorable place to visit and kids will love the boat ride across the pool, especially if the waterfall is in full flow.

3: The surrounding coastline is worth exploring as there are superb walks along the clifftop. In particular, visitors can enjoy a short walk on paths that ring the promontory immediately east of Smoo Cave.

Visiting tips

1: Try to time your visit after a heavy downpour as the freshwater waterfall is spectacular.

2: There are cafés in Durness but if the weather is warm enough take a picnic and sit near the cliff tops for an amazing view. Toilets are located in the car park.

3: If you’re looking for an outdoor adventure after visiting Smoo Cave, Faraid Head is a wee bit further west which is highly recommended for its beaches and wildlife, as is Talmine Bay to the east.

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Overview

Smoo Cave in the far northern Highlands is arguably one of – if not the – most impressive natural wonders in Scotland.

This is a cave that’s absolutely monumental in size, and the cave entrance has the privilege of being the largest sea cave entrance in Britain – something you’ll only really appreciate once you visit the place.

To get to Smoo Cave head towards the village of Durness in Sutherland (the most northwesterly village on the Scottish mainland) and stop at the car park on the village outskirts.

From there you can follow the path down from the top of the limestone cliffs to the tidal gorge at the bottom where you’ll be greeted by a dramatic coastline that rivals any other in Scotland.

In the opposite direction from the sea lies Smoo Cave which is impossible to miss as it’s absolutely enormous.

The entrance is gob-smacking and it has to be one of the most photo-worthy natural attractions in Scotland, with a ceiling that towers 50 feet overhead and walls that circle out 150 feet from the cave mouth.

The sea washes right inside this cave (depending on the tide) so you’ll be thankful there’s a wooden bridge to take you onto the path that leads into the main chamber.

However, to get the most out of a visit you’ll need to book yourself onto one of the tours that take you much further into the underground network of chambers.

One of the things that make Smoo Cave unique is the fact that part of it has been formed by the sea while the rest of it has been carved out of the rock by freshwater, and in fact, this is the only cave of its type in Britain that has been created this way.

Although your visit shouldn’t take much more than an hour I recommend having a chat with the on-site tour guides while you’re there as there’s a fascinating history associated with this cave.

The name ‘Smoo’ is thought to derive from an old Norse word meaning ‘hiding place’ which kind of makes sense once you start exploring the deeper recesses.

During the time that Vikings were pillaging Scotland the most widely used form of transport was the sea, and this enormous cave located inland at the end of a long gulley would have been the perfect hidey-hole for Vikings that wanted to escape revenge attacks by angry locals.

In fact, evidence shows the caves were inhabited even before the Vikings, with remains being uncovered that date back over 5,000 years.

There’s a definite sombre atmosphere in this gloomy cavern which might go some way to explaining why for centuries it was thought that the caves were the home of the devil.

The fear of disturbing some dark force meant that locals kept well clear of the underground chambers, making them a convenient place to dump the bodies of anyone who’d been murdered in what passed for justice at the time.

One grisly tale describes how two customs and excise men were drowned when the local boatman ferrying them about on their search for illicit whisky ‘accidentally’ rowed them under the powerful waterfall in the second chamber.

I have to say I left Smoo Cave with the feeling that visiting these subterranean hollows is like stepping into another world, one that’s cold and dark yet hauntingly beautiful at the same time.

Tourist information

You can enter the main chamber for no fee whatsoever, and to be honest if you choose not to take the tour you’ll still have a memorable time as the cave entrance is probably the most impressive part of a visit.

As you face the cave mouth you’ll notice a wooden walkway leading into the cave walls on the right-hand side and it’s there where you’ll find the second and third chambers.

The second chamber is a remarkable place as it’s where the torrential waterfall plummets down 80 feet from a hole in the cave roof, fed by the waters of the Allt Smoo stream above.

After a downpour the water thunders down and it’s so loud you’ll struggle to hear yourself talk, but it’s an exciting spectacle nonetheless.

The wooden platform overlooking the waterfall lets you appreciate this chamber in all its glory so I recommend you stop to take a few photos while you’re there.

You won’t see too much on a dark day but when the sun shines it cascades through the waterfall’s opening to light up the crystal-clear pool of water in a stunning reflective light show of blues and greens.

Sadly the photos on this page don’t do Smoo Cave justice as they were taken during a particularly dry spell, but you can at least get an idea of what to expect when you visit.

It’s from this point where the tour begins, and by descending a small set of steps you’ll launch yourself into a small dinghy to be carried across the pool into the third chamber beyond.

It’s just a short walk from the far end of the waterfall to the third chamber but it’s an enjoyable experience all the same, with the only downside being you can’t go any further.

Although that’s the end of the road as far as the tour goes, if you look down you’ll see a pool of water that descends into a tunnel that burrows its way to another space beyond the walls surrounding the third chamber.

One of the guides I spoke to said he was slowly but surely excavating an alternate entrance into this hidden chamber and that one day in the future it might be possible to visit it, and from what I saw I sincerely hope he manages to break through.

But as far as the current tour goes you’ve no option but to turn back and retrace your footsteps the way you came in, including the return boat ride.

However, as an added bonus there’s a really nice walk along the peninsula on a path that heads to the right of the cave entrance which is every bit as enjoyable as exploring the cave is.

It’s not a long walk – plan an hour for the circuit – but it’s a great way to see the gorgeous Sutherland coastline and it’ll nicely round off a visit to this impressive cave network.

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Things to do nearby

Balnakeil Craft Village. 21E Craft Village, Balnakeil, Durness, Lairg IV27 4PT. 3-minute drive. An independent craft village located near the village of Durness. Local artists sell a variety of artworks including pottery, paintings and woodwork. There is a café on site.

Sango Bay. 2010 A838, Lairg IV27 4QA. 2-minute drive. Scenic beach with sea stacks. The beach is renowned for the crystal clear sea in the bay that is ideal for swimming and snorkelling. There are clifftop walks along the coastline and there are several campsites nearby.

Balnakeil Beach. Lairg IV27 4PX. 5-minute walk. A wide, sweeping stretch of golden sand dunes that overlook the Kyle of Durness and the Achiemore peninsula. Parking is available near the ruins of historic Balnakeil Church.

Durness. A838, Durness, Lairg IV27 4PN. 3-minute drive. A small country village that is lightly populated but frequently visited thanks to its central location that offers access to the coastline. There is a store (one of the few in the area) in the village centre.

Ceannabeinne Beach. A838, Lairg IV27 4QE. 5-minute drive. Popular beach that draws visitors to its clean white sand and crystal clear sea. The shallow water is frequently used by kayakers and people brave enough to swim to nearby Eilean Hoan island.

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Frequently asked questions

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