Cracking little walk to the Bone caves

Walk: Bone Caves, Inchnadamph
Category: Trail
Height: circa 200m
Rest day so out with the good lady to take in this short walk that I noticed on a map. Glad we did it was a little cracker.
A beautiful day for a short but extremely scenic drive from Lairg along roads most tourists have yet to discover.

Start

Missed the turnoff, a very small camouflaged wooden pole it turned out, but found it on drive back.
A lovely warm spring day and it starts with a walk up the glen beside the fast rushing Allt nan Uamh.

Falls

 The waterfalls were in good flow considering the lack of rain but there was a better surprise for this burn later.
Just after the falls I spotted a stag on the near horizon on our right with a big hind, both turned and disappeared when they spotted us.

Metres above springs arid

A couple were dangling their feet in the water when it dawned on me that the water concourse above was totally dry, rocks and boulders. On closer inspection the water was bubbling out of the ground, small pockets of amazing springs which in a matter of metres was a fast flowing burn. Never seen that before, a natural wonder.

Metres below springs full burn

There is an easy track to follow that climbs gradually although probably more awkward for poor footwear in wet conditions.

Easy track in

I saw more Wheatear today than I have ever seen on a single outing, beautiful birds. We also had a short sighting of a similarly upright bird, slightly larger but beautiful blacks and greys. My immediate thought was a shrike, I know of no other like that, no binos but we both saw it. If so a gem of a sighting.
With the glare of the sun and the shadows we almost missed the cave entrances up on our right.

Caves

A continuation up the track then turns back on itself climbing along a narrow path to the cave entrances. It is steep and exposed, loose stones so take care. A raven had been flying close by it turned out its nest was just above one of the caves. It made close fly pasts but nothing threatening.

Looking towards Conival

These caves have bones from many of past animals including: arctic fox; lynx; reindeer; bear; wolves etc probably occupied by the hunter gathers. There are links between some of them but only for the brave. In one it looked like a small shaft of light far back but no exploring for us.
Standing on the ledge outside the caves you can appreciate the importance of the site as well as for us the views it gives. A stunning stony but bleak and barren landscape.

Looking back towards the start

Scanning our eyes across to Creag na h Iolaire, ever hopeful, but no eagles only the raven patrolling the ridge.
Either retrace your steps or follow the obvious path back down to the valley.

Colour in the grey

The dried up burn mentioned earlier provided colour with gorgeous yellow primroses breaking up the many shades of grey.

Newt

On the way back we stopped at a deep black pool which had pond skaters on top and newts below.
A cracking little walk and one that I would highly recommend.
Wildlife: Raven; Wheatear; Red Admiral & Peacock Butterfly; Newt; Red deer stag & hind, Meadow pipit, Grey shrike?

Time: 2 hours
Ascent: 200m
Distance: circa 3 miles.