Sightings:

Hillwalkers, Anglers and cavers alike have claimed to have seen the Easgann in a number of locations within the Inchnadamph area. Locations include the Traligill Basin that has numerous caves by the rivers with the Cnoc nan Uamh system at the head of one feeding stream where the stream flows through the large cave. It has also been seen in the Allt Nan Uamh valley in both the dominant systems Allt Nan Uamh Stream Cave and Uamh An Claonaite (Scotland's longest cave). This has confused speleologists since none of these three systems appear to be connected, although some believe that Allt Nan Uamh Stream cave (ANUSC) & Uamh An Claonaite were once connected at some point in the past.

The only way in which an eel-like creature would get from Allt Nan Uamh to Cnoc Nan Uamh would be via the Rivers Loanan, Loch Assynt, River Traligill during high river levels as the higher streams tend to be very low (or dry) during warmer seasons. It does seem strange however that such a large creature could swim in such small waterways and not be seen. The only sightings have been made around the caves and at Loch Assynt. This leads to the idea that these three cave systems are somehow connected underground by an undiscovered passage(s). Some Speleologists believe that such a passage in theory could exist due to the presence of a spring lower down the Allt Nan Uamh Valley at Fuaran Allt Nan Uamh. This rising water could come from a cave that has been blocked by large volumes of sediment which could connect ANUS, Cnoc nan Uamh and possibly Claonaite. Any eel-like animal would have a great advantage being able to pass through small passages and holes that humans would never be able to fit through in order to see where it goes, therefore it may have it's own undisturbed niche that may never be reached by man. The search for the monsters lair continues!

The obvious anomaly on the map is the one seen at Loch Assynt. A sighting by tourists was made in 1987 whilst visiting the ancient ruins of Ardvreck Castle on the banks of the loch where they saw a 'very long snake like creature which had a finned tail like a fish'. The beast could use the loch as a feeding ground where a large supply of fish and other organisms live. The only problem for it would be getting from the caves to this loch, either via the River Traligill or through another small cave yet to be found that leads there.

An Eel?:

An eel is the closest creature matching the descriptions given. Some believe that the Easgann could be a species related to the giant moray eel (the largest of all known eels) which have extremely powerful bites, capable of causing great pain to anything stumbling across it. They are also known to hide in caves and between rocks during the day and swim out in the dark to eat animals such as octopuses and fish. Giant eels are feared predators worldwide, known for their fearsome diseased bite. They normally appear around 8-foot long with mottled brown, leathery skin and have pronounced incisor teeth. Giant eels will conceal themselves in a reef, seaweed, cave or underneath stones. When its prey passes by, it lunges out, biting its prey and striking with blinding speed. It will attack almost anything that passes near it, regardless of the size of the prey. Eels like the Moray are mainly confined to the tropical waters of the world and in theory could not survive the cold temperatures of Northern Scotland but eels are some of the hardiest creatures in the water. The pattern of hiding in caves during the day and only being seen outside around evening and night matches the Easgann pattern since it has only ever been seen later on in the evenings. This possibly explains why it has rarely been seen since very few venture up the hills in the dark. The caves are also very remote, normally taking half an hours walk from the nearest road to reach them.

It is difficult to say exactly what it is due to the vagueness of reports when other 'monster' like creatures have been reported in the other lochs nearby. Is the Easgann really a giant eel, another sighting of a previously sighted water beast, or simply simply an eel or other fish that looks larger when seen through water from above or just a hoax?

The mystery of the Easgann Na Uamh continues...

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