Smoo Cave
Smoo Cave / Uamh Smùdha
A giant sea cave beside the village of Durness on Scotland's northernmost coast, carved by seawater and freshwater together, with a waterfall inside.
Smoo Cave / Uamh Smùdha sits beside the village of Durness in the northwest corner of mainland Scotland. It combines a sea cave with a freshwater cave, and its entrance is one of the largest sea-cave openings in Britain. A path from the car park leads down to the bay, where you can enter the first chamber for free. In the second chamber, the Smoo Burn falls from above to form a waterfall; in summer you can book a local small-group tour that travels by boat and on foot into the deeper parts. The sea cliffs and sandy coves outside the cave are also worth exploring. It is about 2.5–3 hours' drive from Inverness and is usually a stop on the northern stretch of the North Coast 500; staying overnight in Durness is recommended. Paths are slippery after rain, so wear non-slip shoes.
Opening hours
Outer cave open all day; inner cave tours about Apr–Sep
Nearby sights
- Dunrobin Castle
- Glenmorangie Distillery
- Rogie Falls
- Beauly Priory
- Fairy Glen, Rosemarkie
- Chanonry Point
- Fort George
- Inverness