Mackinnon's Cave

Mackinnon's Cave is reckoned to be the deepest sea-cae in the Hebrides. It has been carved out of rocks, mainly psammites of the Moine series and lies at the edge of some of the most broken coastal scenery in Mull, the Wilderness. This is a place of sheer cliffs, rocky shores and dramatic scenery featuring  caves, arches and sea stacks.

 

Mackinnon's Cave can be reached by a sign-posted path from near Balmeanach Farm where a small parking area is located. A  sign with a map on it shows the way.

 

The basalt lava cliffs above Balmeanach on the way to the Cave

 

A short but muddy walk takes you to the top of the cliffs where a way can be found down to the shore. Most of the rock is psammite (aka quartzite) of Neoproterozoic age (Moine rocks). It can be quite slippery when wet.

 

Looking along the coast towards the Cave

 

A scramble along the shore and amongst some larg e bouilders of conglomerate which have come down from the cliffs above, takes you to the cave entrance. Note carefully - low tide is essential for access to the cave. There is a grandeur about the area that is distinctive of the whole Wilderness - soaring cliffs, waterfalls and the constant noise of the waves make for a dramatic landscape.

 

Entrance to Mackinnon's Cave

 

The pictures below show the area in more detail. The psammites along the shore dip at about 40 degrees and make for awkward scrambling. The jointing is distinctive, almost hexagonal and is well seen from the cliffs above:

 


Psammites on the shore seen from the cliffs

 

Other photos of the location:

Click on an image to open a larger picture.

Basalt cliffs (Palaeogene) above Balmeanach Farm

Basalt cliffs (Palaeogene) above
Balmeanach Farm
Coast, looking SW towards cave

Coast, looking SW towards cave
Psammites on the way to the cave

Psammites on the way to the cave
Triassic conglomerate from cliffs above

Triassic conglomerate from cliffs above
Psammites

Psammites
Cross bedding in the psammites

Cross bedding in the psammites
Layers in psammites, up close

Layers in psammites, up close
Psammites and Conglomerate

Psammites and Conglomerate
Entrance to cave

Entrance to cave
Looking into the cave

Looking into the cave
Looking out to sea
 
Looking out to sea
Signs of human activity in the cave.
 
Signs of human activity in the cave.

Similar or related Geological Sites:

  • Staffa
  • Carsaig Arches
  • Ardtun
  • East of Carsaig
  • Glac Mhor
  • Ardmeanach - The Fossil Tree
  •  

References:

Bailey, E.B., Clough, C.T., Wright, W.B. et al. (1924) Tertiary and Post-Tertiary Geology of Mull, Loch Aline and Oban. Memoir of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, HMSO, Edinburgh.