Smoo Cave, a limestone cavern, with three compartments, in Durness parish, Sutherland, at the head of a small sea-inlet 1¾ mile E of Durness church. Its entrance is 53 feet high, and resembles a Gothic arch with high entablature and spreading pillars; its first compartment is 200 feet long and 110 wide, and has a vaulted roof with vertical aperture to the open air; its second- compartment is 70 feet long and 30 wide, has also a high arched roof with vertical aperture, contains a deep pool, and receives a waterfall of 80 feet in leap; and the third compartment is 120 feet long, 8 wide, and from 12 to 40 high, and cannot be seen without an artificial- light. A small harbour is adjacent to the cavern, but serves only for boats.—Ord. Sur., sh. 114, 1880.

(F.H. Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-4); © 2004 Gazetteer for Scotland)