Hello and welcome to Stoyes of Scotland, a surprisingly well-reseached look at the strangest parts of Scottish history. I'm Annie.

I'm Jenny. And this week we're going to the far north coast of Scotland,

to one of the most incredible caves in all of the British Isles.

It's the one and only Smoo Cave.

Smoo Cave derives its name from the Old Norse for hiding hole, smugga.

But the only thing that Smoo Cave is smuggling is some very thrilling geology and surreal

heritage really bulging out of its caverns. Well yes, Smoo Cave is a really awesome cave. It has a

special place in my heart because it was one of the first places I visited when I returned to

live in the Highlands as an adult. And I went on a road trip with my mum and we visited a lot of exciting sites around the North Coast 500.

But Smoo Cave really left an impression on me.

I think it's so strange that you say that, Annie, because I have almost the exact same story.

You also visited Smoo Cave with my mum? No, I wish I had her

as a tour guide, but no, I was actually, I was alone, but I spent my university years in America,

basically just bigging up to everyone how great Scotland was. But the more I said it, the more I

realised that I actually hadn't seen that much of Scotland, I just knew that it was meant to be beautiful.

So when I returned to live here as well, the first thing I did was hop in my car and go and

explore the north of the country. And I remember I found my favourite camping spot in the whole

of the country still to this day, a couple of coves along from Smoo Cave. And the next morning,

after a wonderful night under the stars I went

down really early to the cave and explored them by myself in the quiet mid-morning silence.

It was stunning and truly beautiful and I have never forgotten it but your mum wasn't there

so yeah she's really good at pointing at rocks and saying, that's a good rock.

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