[Back] [Buy Prints]

5P44
The Smuggler's Cave of Ben Rodeen
(also known as Benadanir Cave)
Port Moon, Causeway Headlands
County Antrim

Photo © Andy McInroy

This secret and rarely visited cave lies in the small inaccesible cove of Benadanir Port, just to the east of Port Moon. The cove faces onto the massive volcanic stack of rock known as Benadanir Stack or simply 'The Stack'. This is an impressive feature seen from the clifftop path. The cave has a history of smuggling and this huge vault would have hidden an entire ships cargo of contraband. Note the presence of an old wall at the entrance which may have given some protection from the elements. A dangerous smugglers path called the 'Ben Rodeen' apparently once existed to allow the smugglers to transport their goods to the clifftop. That is not a route that any sensible person would ever attempt and there is no evidence of it now. I used my dinghy to paddle round to this cave from Port Moon. I have included myself in this shot to give some idea of scale of this ancient basalt cave. If you can shed any light on the history of this cave, do get in contact with me. This is one that the history books appear to have forgotten. Other Keywords: Dunseverick, Portnagovna, Portnahooagh, Salmon Fishery