Smoo Cave

Its name comes from the Old Norse smuga, meaning hiding place, and it has given people shelter for thousands of years. It is best visited on a circular walk from the car park.

During the Viking era, the area was home to a fishing and shipbuilding community, providing protection from passing boats. Inside the cave, a wooden walkway and bridge provides access for visitors, leading them to a magnificent waterfall that cascades 25 metres into an 8-metre deep plunge pool. Illuminated from above, the waterfall casts an ethereal presence in the darkness of the cave. For the intrepid wishing to gain an innermost view of Smoo Cave, guided geological tours are available, commencing with a short boat ride into the cavern, before taking visitors into its darkest depths.

Getting there and other important information

Arriving by car

Smoo Cave is located on the A838, 1 mile east of Durness. Parking and public toilets are available on-site.

Arriving by bus

The Smoo Cave bus stop is near the car park, with buses from Durness and Lairg.

Accessibility

While the walkways inside Smoo Cave are easily negotiated, the path from the car park is steep with some steps, so may pose a challenge for visitors with restricted mobility.

Things to see and do nearby

For a fascinating few hours, head to Balnakeil Craft Village, a curious assortment of local businesses selling an array of creations, from chocolate and ceramics to art and glasswork. From here you can also take a boat trip to Smoo Cave or Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point of mainland Britain.

Places to eat and drink

The closest eatery to Smoo Cave, the Smoo Cave Hotel offers a tempting choice of dining options, from hot and cold snacks for a mid-afternoon treat, to wholesome lunches and evening meals. For chocoholics, Cocoa Mountain Balnakeil, at the Balnakeil Craft Village, is the place for chocolate, and on a cool, gusty day its hot chocolates, mochas, teas and coffees are welcome.

Did you know…?

It’s unsurprising that 40,000 people visit Smoo Cave every year: the cave is the only one of its kind in the UK, with the first chamber eroded by the sea, the inner chambers created by rainwater dissolving the carbonate rock overhead.