Bone Caves

Bone Caves, Inchnadamph (Assynt)

If you like your walks with a side of ancient history, the Bone Caves are a brilliant stop in Assynt - and an easy one to incorporate into your journey along the North Coast 500.

This is wild, empty-feeling landscape. Big skies. Limestone hills. A quiet glen that feels miles from anywhere. The caves themselves sit high above the valley floor, carved into the rock and packed with stories going back tens of thousands of years.

What are the Bone Caves?

The Bone Caves are a series of limestone caves where archaeologists discovered remains of animals like lynx, polar bear and reindeer - creatures that roamed the Highlands during the last Ice Age. Some of the finds date back over 40,000 years, making this one of Scotland’s most important prehistoric sites.

You can’t go too deep into the caves themselves, but you can walk right up to the entrances and wander inside. Standing there, it’s hard not to imagine what this place must have been like when Assynt looked more like the Arctic than the Highlands.

The walk

The walk starts from a small car park just off the A837, near Inchnadamph. From there, a clear path follows the Allt nan Uamh burn up the glen.

• Distance: around 4.5 km return

• Time: 1.5 to 2 hours

• Difficulty: moderate

• Terrain: rough path, rocky sections, and a steep final climb

The last section is a bit tough - a narrow, steep path zig-zags up to the caves. Take your time, especially in wet or windy weather. Good footwear is essential.

Why it’s worth the effort

Even before you reach the caves, the walk is a stunner. Dramatic limestone scenery. Waterfalls after rain. Red deer often on the hillsides. And once you’re up at the caves, the views back down the valley are something else.

It’s not a polished attraction. No signs, no barriers, no café waiting at the end. That’s part of the appeal. It feels raw and real and the kind of place you remember long after the drive is over.

Practical tips

• No facilities at the car park so come prepared

• Best visited in dry weather

• Not suitable for pushchairs

• Keep dogs under close control near the steep sections

• Allow extra time if you enjoy photography (you will)

Good to combine with

The Bone Caves work well as a half-day stop when travelling between Ullapool and the north-west Highlands. They pair nicely with nearby lochs, short Assynt walks, or a scenic drive deeper into the landscape that makes this part of Scotland so unforgettable.
If all you want to do is drive, the roads and scenery will still take your breath away.

Location