Taigh nam Famh - The Elphin Caving Centre
The Elphin Caving Centre (ECC) is a newly renovated and extended
building in Elphin 24 km north of Ullapool. It has self-catering
accomodation for 20 people, gas and wood fires, toilets, hot showers,
gas rings for cooking, a microwave oven, parking for eight cars
et cetera. It also has the best location of any caving hut in the
entire country with a superb view of Cul Mor, Suilven and Canisp
from the front door - three mountains of 849, 731 and 846 metres
respectively. The ECC is to the right (east) of the main road
just after the telephone box on the left when you are travelling
north through Elphin. Cost is 5 pounds per night.
Directions to Taigh nam Famh
From Inverness on the A9 cross the Kessock bridge and follow the
signs to Ullapool. Continue through Ullapool on the main road to
the north (there is no other) and shortly after Knockan Crag
start looking for a red telephone box on the left.
A few metres after the telephone box turn
to the right up a track to the ECC. If you meet a second cattle
grid or arrive at a T junction (Ledmore Junction) you've gone
too far.
Official Name
The name `Taigh nam Famh' is Gaelic
for `House of the Moles'. It also has an obscure meaning of `a man / men
addicted to burrowing underground', and is thus a suitable name for a caving
hut!
View From The Hut
Suilven, the mountain on the right in the panorama, is a truly unique shape,
and this photograph from the BGS is such
a good one I had to include it here! Click on it for a larger version.
Old club hut
The old club hut was in Knockan, not far from Elphin, but it is now unused.
Grampian Speleological Group
Introduction to Caves and Caving in Scotland
