Slip rifts, Scottish Highlands

Lankyman

Lankyman

Well-known member
The thread on Saddleworth Moor got me thinking about rift features I've seen in Scotland particularly. I think I first read about them in the writings of Hamish Brown where he mentions encountering them on the Arrochar hills. I've noticed them up there myself. Last year I was descending east off Ben Donich and came across some just above the col that links it with The Brack. They were easily big enough to get (fall!) into. I'd imagine with good snow cover they'd be very dangerous. Does anyone know if there's been any recorded exploration? I suspect some of these rifts are quite deep.
 
mikem said:
Put the summit grid ref into (will bring up anything noted within 2km):
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Thanks. I typed in the name Ben Donich and it just gave a dubious result for something near Lochgoilhead. It did also give a link to an article on the Walkhighlands forum mentioning a fissure on the normal northern approach route from Rest and be Thankful (which I used on the way up). I saw this fissure but was more intent on getting to the top before I ran out of steam. The ones I had a poke about were to the east and don't get mentioned.
 
It's not too reliable on names, much better if you use coordinates or select location on map. However, it's actually within 10km, not 2 (as per other registries), & Ben donich does come up with:
"Fissures (possibly mythical). Landslip fissures near to of Ben Donich riddled with large fissures and boulder caves/ rockshelters.
Having been told anything written by Thing should be taken with a pinch of salt, extremely long winded & rambling account of trek from National Scout Activity Centre [Ardentinny?] to Ben Donch Cave as yet discovered by nobody other than Thing at NN215019, 1000 ft above sea level, 30 m long with a 5m range ending in a 12 m drop.
Big difference in reported coordinates. And Thing when accompanied by Jim Salvona could not relocate cave.
Being generous Thing may have got lost or suffered from a poor memory as 'Loch Goil - A Slice of Paradise', 2001, p. 3. mentions caves on the slopes of Ben Donich.
At the more open corrie above, a jumble of boulders is on the right below crags: the 'Cobbler View' howff (cave shelter) is in there somewhere."
 
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Yes, I see. Using a grid ref of NN 233043 on the eastern shoulder of Ben Donich works on the map. Lots of results using the 10 km radius but nothing actually where the rifts at the location itself (which suggests that they haven't been investigated).
 
I think Thing's description probably relates to that area, which is why they didn't find anything when they went to spot he thought it was.

The howff (shelter under or against a boulder) is described as being on the Brack:

UKC Forums - Cobbler View on the Brack

www.ukclimbing.com www.ukclimbing.com
heavywhalley.wordpress.com

Who remembers this ? Howffs

Photo – Andy Brooks Collection Moray Mountain Club Meet. The big Gully gives it away. I can remember a few “howffs” that were built often near climbing areas. They were usually near or under …
heavywhalley.wordpress.com heavywhalley.wordpress.com
diariesofjohnhinde.wordpress.com

RAF Winter Course 1965

Monday 25 January 1965 Howffing last night at Brack Howff. With Geordie Armstrong, Jim Craig and Dave Ward. Tramped up through forest at about midnight; hard frost crackling underfoot with clear st…
diariesofjohnhinde.wordpress.com diariesofjohnhinde.wordpress.com

Several blogs do mention the fissures to E/NE of summit being a potential trap in snow, plus:

More fissures / slips are mentioned near Succoth, where this gap between boulders is also found:
www.walkhighlands.co.uk

Walk Report - The Gruffalos Cave

Warning This report is under construction a nd has still to be edited Decided to go in search of the Gruffalo today! Julia Donaldson wrote...
www.walkhighlands.co.uk
 
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Apparently Ben Vorlich, Narnain and the Cobbler as well (doesn't provide any further information than that they are "riddled with caves and passages"). When I first posted it you could see the text, but now hidden behind a link to take you to Instagram itself, which isn't worth the effort, unless you already use it:
 
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You have to "thread the needle" and crawl through a passage to access the top of The Cobbler.
 

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Lankyman said:
This was one of my earliest Scottish hills. I never thought of it as a caving trip though ....
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There are significant slit fault holes at Arrochar and especially the island of Raasay. Depths of 50m+ can be found. They occur all over Scotland and many have been explored by the GSG - and published in their bi-annual Bulletin. By checking the Database, note that not all have been accurately located by NGR, if entry pre-dated GPS etc. However, a good number are listed.
 
Goon said:
There are significant slit fault holes at Arrochar and especially the island of Raasay. Depths of 50m+ can be found. They occur all over Scotland and many have been explored by the GSG - and published in their bi-annual Bulletin. By checking the Database, note that not all have been accurately located by NGR, if entry pre-dated GPS etc. However, a good number are listed.
Click to expand...
Not anything to do with fault rifts but your mention of caves near Trinafour triggered a memory of car camping up on the moor there in a futile attempt to avoid the midges in the glen. More relevant was a much more recent visit to a limekiln not too far away

Tomphubil Limekiln

Visitor and tourism information for Highland Perthshire, Scotland, including Pitlochry, Aberfeldy, Dunkeld, Kinloch Rannoch and Blair Atholl.
www.highlandperthshire.org www.highlandperthshire.org
I notice that the Scottish Cave database doesn't show anything thereabouts. Has anyone had a look? It was raining when I was there (that's my excuse).
 
nmenzies said:
There are several small caves at Trinafour and also more at Foss and lassintullich at foot of Schiehallion, they are formed in limestone and are definitely collectors items although doing the combination of them makes for a good day's caving. They are all the cave registry.
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Yes, thanks. I'd read about the Schiehallion caves many years ago but not the ones at Trinafour mentioned by Goon and yourself. The location I was wondering about is
maps.app.goo.gl

Tomphubil Lime-Kiln · Pitlochry

maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl
It's by the road just east of Schiehallion (same limestone?) but there doesn't seem to be anything listed in the database and I was wondering if anyone had scouted around there?
 
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