Smoo Cave Circular

Start: Smoo Cave Car Park, Durness, Lairg, IV27 4QA. If the car park at the top of the cave is full, continue along the road towards Durness Village and there is a second car park on your left suitable for motorhomes and campervans.

(S/E) From the car park, walk along the A838 road in a north west direction until you reach the trig point. Cross the road and enter the John Lennon Memorial Garden. You can skip this section if you do not wish to visit the garden.

(1) Exit the garden and rejoin the road retracing your steps to Smoo Cave car park. Walk past the toilets to the picnic area and then turn left to the fence. This gives a good view down to the cove below. There are information boards here about the caves. Continue to your left passing behind the toilet block to the top of the steps. There are more information boards here. Continue down the steps with care as many of them have very deep treads and are uneven.

(2) At the bottom, cross the bridge over Allt Smoo stream which flows through the cave and then bearing right towards the cave.

(3) The large cavern is open for all visitors, walk along the covered wooden walkway to view a large cavern. There are boat rides here in summer to view further caverns (fees apply). After visiting the cave, retrace your steps to the bridge, bear right up the steps (much gentler climb).

(4) At the top of the steps there is a gate in front of you. If you wish to view the cove further, then go through the gate, retracing your steps after enjoying the view. Turn right at the gate following the well-made footpath along the top of the inlet (south). Keep left on the main path until you reach the road. Cross the road to the footpath and turn right. Then take the steps on the left.

(5) From the footbridge you can look straight down into the sinkhole. Continue back to the road and turn left to walk back to the car park (S/E).

Transport: There are a few parking spaces at the entrance to Smoo Cave. There is also further parking approximately 250m further along the road suitable for larger vehicles. Buses 803/805 (infrequent, not Sunday) stop right next to the car park.

Facilities: There are toilets at the entrance to the cave and also picnic benches. There are takeaway vans in summer. There is a shop and cafes in Durness Village.

Terrain/Accessibility: The cave is not accessible due to the large amount of steps to get down to the cave. Wear sensible footwear as the footpath/steps down is very uneven and steep.

• Smoo Cave has been eroded by the waves and now provides an amazing place to wonder at the power of nature. Visits by boat can be made further into the caves.
• John Lennon Memorial Garden - a small, but perfectly formed garden, well worth a stop.