Field Visit

Date 18 November 1977

Event ID 922826

Category Recording

Type Field Visit

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/922826

St Molaise's Cave; name verified.

The "Cave" is a sandstone cliff overhang, and is as described and planned by Balfour.

The paving is of regular sized, shaped slabs and the large stone, almost flush with the paving, is unmarked and of unknown purpose. Several niches carved into the rear wall are possibly authentic, and the overhang roof, particularly on the N side is covered in worn scratched crosses and clear Runic inscriptions. Above the overhang on the S side is an elaborately carved Latin cross about 20 cms long.

The dry-stone retaining wall along the open W side is at ground level externally but is 1.3m deep internally. It is in good repair as is the walling at the S end.

Surveyed at 1:10 000.

Visited by OS (J R L) 18 November 1977.