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The mysterious Scottish cave with fascinating Jesus painting near ‘lovely’ pub

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6 months ago

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The mysterious Scottish cave with fascinating Jesus painting near ‘lovely’ pub

Scotland is home to so many picture-perfect beauty spots that it can make your head spin when trying to decide which one to head to.

There are also plenty of mysterious locations around the country that have a special or even magical atmosphere to them. For the Daily Record’s newest Walk of the Week, we have chosen a one-of-a-kind destination that is as fascinating as it is beautiful.



The latest edition of our weekly series highlighting Scotland’s top beauty spots and hikes is dedicated to Davaar Island and its one-of-a-kind cave. Accessible only at low tide, Davaar Island is found at the mouth of Campbeltown Loch off the east coast of Kintyre in Argyll and Bute.

To reach the island, all you need to do is cross the causeway that links it to the mainland. Once there, you should head straight for the ‘Crucifixion Cave’.

As the name suggests, the unique sea cave features a life-sized painting of the Crucifixion of Christ on one of its walls. The stunning work of art was painted by local teacher Archibald MacKinnon in the 19th century.

According to legend, MacKinnon experienced a vision in 1887 in which he was instructed to paint the Crucifixion in the cave. Having completed the artwork in total secrecy, no one was even aware of its existence.

That was, until it was discovered by some local fishermen who had no idea of the painting’s origins. Understandably, they took it as a miracle and a sign from God — which resulted in MacKinnon being driven out of the nearby town of Campbeltown once word spread.

The island and cave are definitely worth checking out for yourself. After you are done, you can pop over to Campbeltown for a drink at its “lovely” pub.


However, it is crucial to be aware of tide times by checking with the local tourist board in Campbeltown before travelling to Davaar Island. This is because it takes around an hour to walk across the causeway, and it becomes completely submerged at high tide.

Continue reading for a roundup of some photos of the incredible Davaar Island Cave. Meanwhile, you can find some of our past Walks of the Week below.

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The entrance to the cave on Davaar Island is suitably mysterious and alluring.

(Image: Photo © Steve Partridge (cc-by-sa/2.0))

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Be prepared to have your breath taken away by MacKinnon’s stunning depiction of the Crucifixion of Christ. The artwork has been restored a number of times by local art teachers over the years to ensure it remains in good condition.

(Image: Photo © Johnny Durnan (cc-by-sa/2.0))

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Knowing the story of the painting makes it that bit more impressive. Make sure you don’t lose track of time while admiring it, though, as the last thing you want is to be stranded when the tide rises.

(Image: Photo © Calum McRoberts (cc-by-sa/2.0))

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There is also a smaller painting beside the main work of art that is worth stopping to admire as well.

(Image: Photo © Calum McRoberts (cc-by-sa/2.0))

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Once you are back on the mainland, you should head to MacKinnon’s hometown of Campbeltown and enjoy some food and drink at The Black Sheep Pub. Looking on Tripadvisor, where it has an average rating of 4.5 out of five based on 280 reviews, customers have praised the pub as “lovely” and “delicious”.

(Image: Google Maps)

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