Cluny’s Cage

“There is a certain amount of obscurity about the exact site of Cluny's Cage. Tradition has grown up round a cave above Ben Alder Lodge, near the south-western end of Loch Ericht, figured on the Ord. Sur. as Prince Charles's Cave. Yet it is not quite certain that this was the veritable site of the Cage, the tradition of which is well known to the shepherds and gamekeepers of the district. The Cage was an artificial structure of two storeys (1), on a southern spur of Ben Alder (2), overlooking Loch Ericht (3), on the face of a rocky hill (4), in a thicket of holly (5), so situated that sentries could give warning (6). It was never discovered by the enemy. All traces of the shanty have naturally disappeared, but the site of the cave fulfils the necessary conditions, excepting that of the thicket of holly ; yet, as trees have disappeared in many parts of the Highlands, the holly may have died out here” (Blaikie, Itinerary, p. 68). According to the Lyon in Mourning, the Cage was in the face of Litir-na-lic (p. 1551).