Sunday, October 28, 2007

Dun Bonnet cave from the inside

Looking south from the cave
Today I finally got back to the Dun Bonnet cave - armed with a camera, tape measure, torch and a fellow guide to ensure I didn't disappear for ever amongst the jumble of rocks. Hauling myself up to the entry I squeezed over the muddy threshold and found myself in a narrow Y-shaped cave, in which I could walk about, though not without difficulty as the 'floor' is comprised of jagged boulders. There are two openings (the other requiring an even more precipitate approach) and what looks like a perfect chimney from which smoke would be difficult to detect. The cave is about 45 foot across and varies from three foot to about seven foot wide. I also discovered that caves are not easy to photograph without proper lighting and a few objects to provide perspective! However some photos looking out worked out OK. Above is the 'other' entrance from the inside and below is the chimney.


For anyone who has not read the previous postings on the Dun Bonnet, this is a cave near Foyers on Loch Ness where James Fraser of Foyers reportedly spent seven years after the Battle of Culloden, evading capture by the redcoats.

If you would like to visit the Dun Bonnet cave or join one of our Outlander Tours, do please get in touch.

4 comments:

Laura Henderson's Genealogy and Family History said...

Wonderful! Wish we could manage the Diana Gabaldon tour this time around, but maybe next time.

Marion said...

I couldn't live there 7 years. That must be awful cold in winter, and unfriendly when it rains.

What happened to him after the 7 years in the cave?

Alastair Cunningham said...

It would certainly be extremely uncomfortable - a very hard and uneven place to sleep. Regret it seems that it is not recorded what happened when he left.

Unknown said...

i found the cave last year with my friend and found old Scottish shilling.....can't wait to explore it again