The Uamh Oir or Cave of Gold is Skye's answer to Fingal's cave on Staffa. It gives a delightful short walk and is a great place for a picnic; however the final the pathless coastal slope down to it is very steep and dangerous, requiring great care.
Summary
The walk crosses rough croft pasture land; if you really must take a dog it should be kept on a short lead. The descent to see the cave is down an extremely steep grass slope which could be dangerous in the wet.
Terrain
NG378717
Grid ref
2.25km/1.25 miles
Distance
Grade
End of minor public road extending north from near the ruined church at Bornesketaig
Start
Maps
GPS Waypoints
View in 3D
Users'
rating
No trip reports have been submitted for this walk. Why not be the first?
Add your own report on this walk and win £40 of TISO vouchers each month
Users'
reports
No public transport to start. Bus number 57 from Portree passes along the A855 through Kilmuir - get off at the more northerly
road junction for Camas Mor, 2 kilometres from walk start.
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
Pronunciation
and meaning
1. Take the more northerly of the two roads signed for Camas Mor from the A855. The road passes a ruined church; take the turning on the right very shortly after this. There is space to park at the end of the road. Begin the walk by continuing briefly in the same direction from the road end, across grassy croft land sometimes made rough by cows. As the coast is approached bear left and follow the fence line on the inland side. There are great views, both looking along the coastal cliffs to the right, and across the water to the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides.
2. Continue along the landward side of the line of fenceposts; the fence itself is broken down for much of the way. At one point a coastal geo or rocky inlet cuts inland almost to the fence. Continue, crossing the remains of an old drystone dyke or wall, to eventually reach a farm gate and adjacent kissing gate. Pass through the kissing gate and continue beside the line of fenceposts to a corner where the posts (and the coast) turn left. You are now very close to the Cave of Gold. Just after the fence turns left, look out for a rusting iron fence post set into a boulder (most of the other posts are wooden). The descent begins near here, aiming just to the right of the inlet visible below. The descent can be danegerous particularly if the grass is wet in which case it should be avoided, but otherwise take great care and head down the very grass slope to the coast here, keeping the crags just to your right. Two thirds of the way down you'll reach a wide rocky platform; follow this to the right.
3. The cave entrance is visible just round the corner to the right. It is not possible to enter the cave but this is a delightful spot, with perfect hexagonal columns of basalt all around. There are usually lots of shags and other seabirds here, and it is worth keeping an eye out for dolphins and porpoises as well as the currents often bring large shoals of fish. After your rest, return with care back up the grassy slope to the clifftop.
4. Continue along the coastline above the cliffs, following grassy sheep trods. The scattered houses and crofts of Bornesketaig now come into view behind the great bay of Camas Mor, whilst just to the left a small grassy knoll with rocky outcrops is topped with the scant remains of Dun Bornaskitaig, an iron-age broch, a type of circular defensive refuge. Bear left before reaching the broch to cut back inland, following the line of a tumbledown drystone dyke.
5. Keep bearing left to eventually meet the fence at the kissing-gate you passed through earlier. The return to the start is now back the way you came, with those great coastal views along the way.
Have you found an error or is any information wrong or missing?
Please let us know by using the error report form.
Portree Hotels
Portree B&B
Trotternish B&B
Portree cottages
Trotternish cottages
Skye hostels
Route profile
