The enchanted Smoo Cave & waterfall has to be one of the Northern Highlands’ most breathtaking sights. It looks like something out of a fairytale and is steeped in history, tales, and mythology. You should definitely include this in your schedule for a road trip through Scotland.
1. What is Smoo Cave?
In the Scottish Highlands’ northwest, Smoo Cave is a picturesque location. It is one of the most well-liked sites on the NC500 road trip because it is both a sea cave and a freshwater cave.
This gorgeous cave is made up of three chambers. There is a sizable main cavern that you can enter and explore, as well as a smaller cavern with a stunning flowing waterfall.
There is also a third, an inner chamber, that you can only access by boat. You can plan a boat trip to Smoo Cave and a geological cave tour to investigate this in the summer!
It can be reached by a footbridge and a steep staircase that descends the cliffs close to the settlement of Durness.
2. How did Smoo Cave come to be?
Scotland’s Smoo Cave is a natural wonder that was created over thousands of years with both freshwater and saltwater.
The Early Ordovician dolomites’ natural erosion produced this Durness Group member. The major cavern was created by ocean erosion since the cliffs are limestone.
The entrance to the greatest sea cave in Britain is an astounding 40 meters (130 feet) wide and 15 meters (49 feet) high!
Because the interior chambers of Smoo Cave, where the waterfall is located, were formed by freshwater rainstorm erosion, it is relatively unusual in the UK.
3. Is a trip to Smoo Cave worthwhile?
100% Yes! It’s free, simple to reach, and has breathtaking vistas, an amazing cavern, and even a beautiful waterfall at the finish.
In all honesty, neither pictures nor movies of Smoo Cave do it justice. For the truest appreciation of its natural beauty, you must go there yourself.
4. How can I go to Smoo Cave, and where is it?
In the topmost northwestern Highlands of Scotland, in the Sutherland region, close to the Durness settlement, is this magnificent sea cave.
Smoo Cave is best reached by car, and lots of travelers include this breathtaking natural wonder on their NC500 road trip itinerary.
From John O’ Groats, it takes 2 hours and 30 minutes to go to Durness. Ullapool and Thurso are both two-hour drives away as well.
Smoo Cave will be simple to locate after you get to Durness via the A838 because it is the top tourist destination. For example, there are several brown tourist signs.
5. Timings for Smoo Cave opening
Smoo Cave is accessible year-round, 24 hours a day. This makes fitting a visit into your NC500 schedule much simpler.
6. Is it free?
Yes! I also couldn’t believe that admission to Smoo Cave and the breathtaking waterfall was totally free. In Europe, there is almost no such thing as this exquisitely beautiful place.
Stating that donations to aid with maintenance are always welcome in their visitor box, which is located inside the cave.
All throughout the day, there are guided excursions and even boat journeys to Smoo Cave, although these are paid services.
7. How long will it take me to explore Smoo Cave?
Smoo Cave can be explored in as little as 20 to 30 minutes or for up to three hours. It entirely depends on what you hope to gain from your trip. This is probably conceivable if all you wanted to do was rapidly enter and exit Smoo Cave.
