A 40 minute drive from Otter Cottage gets you to the Isle of Whithorn and it is well signposted to the carpark for St Niaiians Cave.
It is a nice half hour walk approximately 3/4 of a mile down from the car park on a rough track through the beautiful woods but be prepared it can be quite muddy at times especially on the lower trail. The cave is off to the right along the beach and again can be fairly rough due to the large pebbles. The cave is quite small with the entrance being a little more impressive than the inside but for many christians this is a very special place of pilgrimage.
St. Ninian was Scotlands first saint and the cave is supposed to be used as his place of retreat. It has been used a place of pilgrimage ever since and some of the wall carvings date back to 700s. There were eleven stones recovered from the excavation in 1800’s these are now held Whithorn Priory visitors centre.
