Doo Cave

Used as a doocot in the Middle Ages, there are still pigeon boxes carved into the cave walls.

Once linked by a passage to the West Doo Cave which contained 17 recorded Pictish carvings, but collapsed under the weight of a heavy gun emplacement in 1914.

W4D-DC-001

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Birds, an S-shape, unidentified animal and Greek crosses


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Double disc with Z-rod and animal head


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Pictish beast


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Double disc and arches


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Flower shape


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Double disc and shapes


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Double disc and S-shapes


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Double discs and rectangle


The Doo Cave before the collapse of the West Doo Cave in the early 20th century. The blocked entrance dates from when it was used to house pigeons, c. 1900.
© Courtesy of RCAHMS (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Collection)


Horse and cart on the track between the Court Cave and the Doo Cave, 1940s to 1960s?
Photo SWACS archives.


West Doo Cave carvings illustrated by James Drummond.
From JY Simpson, Notices of Some Ancient Sculptures on the Walls of Caves in Fife, PSAS 1866.


West Doo Cave carvings illustrated by Andrew Gibb.
From John Stuart, The Sculptured Stones of Scotland, 1867.


J. Patrick photograph in J. Romilly Allen's notebooks of Pictish beast and other symbols in the now collapsed West Doo Cave c. 1890.
© The British Library Board (37542)


J. Patrick photograph annotated by J. Romilly Allen of Pictish beast and other symbols in the now collapsed West Doo Cave c. 1890.
© The British Library Board (37542)


Double disc, Z-rod and animal head symbol in the now collapsed West Doo Cave. Photograph by John Patrick, 1902.
© Courtesy of RCAHMS (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Collection)


Annoted rubbing of double disc, Z-rod and animal head symbol in the now collapsed West Doo Cave, 1890
© The British Library Board (37542)


J. Patrick photograph in J. Romilly Allen's notebooks of birds, crosses and S-shaped figure in the now collapsed West Doo Cave c. 1890.
© The British Library Board (37542)


J. Patrick photograph annotated by J. Romilly Allen of birds, crosses and S-shaped figure in the now collapsed West Doo Cave c. 1890.
© The British Library Board (37542)


Annoted rubbing of flower in collapsed West Doo Cave, J. Romilly Allen, 1890.
© The British Library Board (37542)


J. Romilly Allen's sketch plan of the collapsed West Doo Cave, 20th May 1890
© The British Library Board (37542)