There are many ancient stories that tell that this cave is a gateway to the faerie world, guarded by spirits.
In 1814, when Sir Walter Raleigh entered the third chamber by boat, he described it as exceedingly strange, and an appropriate home for dark beings from the underworld.
Legend as it that, Donald mckay sent his dog into the cave to see if indeed the cave held the devil, the conclusion was that he did reside there, the sun rose and left the devil powerless. The devil was angry and with his anger shot through the roof of the cave, which the hole can be seen today.
But the story of Smoo Cave goes back much further than Raleigh’s visit. Artifacts from the Norse, Neolithic, and Iron Ages have been found in the cave’s main chamber. And the main chamber’s blowhole is said to be the scene of several murders in the 16th century, when a Scottish highwayman tossed his enemies into it.
In the early 1700s, the Smoo Cave was the setting for a murderous trap. The residents of nearby Durness lured a clan of 18 marauders into the cave and slaughtered them to a man. More deaths occurred later in the century, when two Inland Revenue officers were drowned in the second chamber’s thunderous waterfall. One body was never recovered, and that ghost is said to haunt the waterfall to this day.
Access deeper into the cave was not open to the public on our visit due to COVID19 but we stood at the entrance and we could hear voices. As we peeked over we then heard a whistle. It was locked up and didnt look like anyone was deeper in the cave.. I had to wonder if something or someone was trying to lure me down.. Who knows 😉👻
Charlene Lowe Kemp