SKY. SPAR CAVE. 27 j 



I shall now therefore trace the line of the coast, of which 

 the leading features would otherwise be passed over in 

 silence ; since, through a large space, the identical nature 

 of the rocks will prevent any description of them from 

 being required in the geological investigation. 



The promontory of Strathaird, from which this descrip- 

 tion commences, is low at its extremity, being there formed 

 of those stratified rocks which constitute a portion of 

 the adjoining shores of Loch Eishort, but it rises gradually 

 towards Blaven by a succession of hills of trap presenting 

 no remarkable features. It is for the most part surrounded 

 by cliffs, rarely exceeding sixty or seventy feet in height, 

 and cut smoothly down so as to afford a perfect display 

 of the succession of the strata of which they are composed. 

 On the eastern side these are remarkable for the very extra- 

 ordinary number of caves they contain, and for the fissures 

 by which they are intersected. These are rarely of any 

 great dimensions, but are so numerous that they some- 

 times occupy nearly as much space in a given distance 

 as the solid parts of the cliffs themselves. Twenty or 

 thirty are sometimes found in the course of a few hundred 

 yards, the interstices having a resemblance to the ends 

 of detached walls placed in a parallel manner. They are 

 the consequences of trap veins which have been washed 

 away, but as they present important geological facts, they 

 will be described more particularly hereafter. 



Few of these caves have been explored, but one has 

 acquired historic celebrity from its having been among the 

 numerous places of temporary refuge inhabited by Prince 

 Charles during his concealment. Another has recently be- 

 come the cause of great resort to Sky on account of its sta- 

 lactitic concretions, being popularly distinguished by the 

 name of the Spar Cave : it lies on the estate of Mr. Maca- 

 lister, and is too well known to require any more accurate 

 description of its locality. This cave is accessible from 

 the cliffs above, for a short time only, at low water ; but 

 by means of a boat it may be visited at any time in. 



