North West Highlands Geopark (2016) North West Highlands Geopark Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan 2013–2016
Additional notes: These web pages are sourced from the PDF North West Highlands Geopark Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan 2013–2016
NWHG Ref. 034 — Allt nan Uamh Caves
Location, grid reference
The caves are located within higher ground forming the southern slopes above the Allt nan Uamh valley, Grid Ref.
GCR site reference, block, volume and notified feature of SSSI?
GCR Ref. 548, Karst and Caves Block, Vol. 12. Notified feature of Ben More Assynt SSSI.
Description and geological significance
The site contains two of Scotland's most extensive and complex cave systems, as well as some of Britain’s longest caves developed in non-Carboniferous limestone. They provide excellent examples of the nature of karst hydrology and geomorphology in structurally complex thrust sheets of Cambrian-Ordovician Durness dolomitic limestone and also contain valuable evidence concerning the repeated glaciations of the area.
Accessibility
Access is the same as for 033 Creag nan Uamh. Access into the caves is restricted to specialist cavers.
Conservation
Moderate conservation requirement.
Visibility and “clarity”
The cave systems require local knowledge in order to locate them and visibility is therefore very poor.
Interpretation and interpretation potential
Detailed interpretation is restricted to specialists and caving experts/speleologists. There is, however, some limited potential for general interpretation to be added to the existing panel located at the “Bone Caves” car park adjacent to the A 837. The site should also be included in a future Geopark guide.
Key references
Geological Conservation Review Series, Volume 12: Karst and Caves of Great Britain, site description page 306.
LAWSON, T.J. 1988. Caves of Assynt, Grampian Speleological Group.
LAWSON, T. 1995. The Creag nam Uamh caves. In Lawson, T. (eds) The Quaternary of Assynt and Coigach; field guide. Quaternary Research Association, Cambridge, 87–103.
LAWSON, T.J. 1993. Creah nam Uamh. In Gordon, J. E. & Sutherland, D. G. (eds) Quaternary of Scotland. Geological Conservation Review Series, 6, Chapman and Hall, London, 127–133.