As a Covenanter minister preaching at various outdoor conventicles, Alexander Peden is said to have used a number of other caves as places of concealment during his years on the run from the King's soldiers, including Barskimming, one on Craigie Hill near the village, another at the Nick of the Balloch, a further example near the Water of Girvan and  his final cave hiding place may have been the Cleuch Glen in Sorn Parish which he reportedly asked to be made when he sensed that his illness was terminal, supposedly hiding beneath some straw when it was searched by soldiers.

The facts remain unclear, however one telling of the history is that a brother of the Covenanter minister lived at Tenshilling Farm, the surviving Ten Shilling Bridge lies close to the estate's so called Deer Cave.
Alexander's brother is said to have brought food to the cave to feed him and the various other Covenanters who hid with Peden from time to time.

It may have been this cave where he took ill  before moving closer to his brother's farm where he died on 26 January 1686.
He was secretly buried at Auchinleck in the churchyard however he was later exhumed by the King's soldiers and later buried at the foot of the gallows tree in Cumnock where a graveyard is now located with memorials to Alexander Peden and several over Covenanters.
The soldiers had intended to hang the minister's corpse from the tree however William, second Earl of Dumfries prevented this.

Several other caves in Ayrshire and beyond are said to have been used as places of concealment by Covenanters in general, such as the Cleeves Cove on the Dusk Water near Dalry and Dunton Cove on the Craufurdland Water near Waterside in East Ayrshire.

The cave's location is close to one of the few local fording places over the River Lugar that existed before any bridges were constructed, making it a surprising location for a hiding place and in addition Dumfries House, Auchinleck House and Ochiltree House were all in the immediate vicinity.

The cave may have seen various uses after the time of the Covenanters such as shelter for travellers or a base for people assisting travellers who were crossing the river by the ford, especially when the water was high or when it was in spate, certainly local anglers have found it to be a convenient shelter.

Many other sites have Peden's name attached to them such as the Peden's Pulpit near Failford, another at Dalry and a Peden's Stone as well as Peden's Hut, etc.
As a Covenanter minister preaching at various outdoor conventicles, Alexander Peden is said to have used a number of other caves as places of concealment during his years on the run from the King's soldiers, including Barskimming, one on Craigie Hill near the village, another at the Nick of the Balloch, a further example near the Water of Girvan and  his final cave hiding place may have been the Cleuch Glen in Sorn Parish which he reportedly asked to be made when he sensed that his illness was terminal, supposedly hiding beneath some straw when it was searched by soldiers.
The facts remain unclear, however one telling of the history is that a brother of the Covenanter minister lived at Tenshilling Farm, the surviving Ten Shilling Bridge lies close to the estate's so called Deer Cave. Alexander's brother is said to have brought food to the cave to feed him and the various other Covenanters who hid with Peden from time to time.
It may have been this cave where he took ill  before moving closer to his brother's farm where he died on 26 January 1686. He was secretly buried at Auchinleck in the churchyard however he was later exhumed by the King's soldiers and later buried at the foot of the gallows tree in Cumnock where a graveyard is now located with memorials to Alexander Peden and several over Covenanters. The soldiers had intended to hang the minister's corpse from the tree however William, second Earl of Dumfries prevented this.
Several other caves in Ayrshire and beyond are said to have been used as places of concealment by Covenanters in general, such as the Cleeves Cove on the Dusk Water near Dalry and Dunton Cove on the Craufurdland Water near Waterside in East Ayrshire. 
The cave's location is close to one of the few local fording places over the River Lugar that existed before any bridges were constructed, making it a surprising location for a hiding place and in addition Dumfries House, Auchinleck House and Ochiltree House were all in the immediate vicinity.
The cave may have seen various uses after the time of the Covenanters such as shelter for travellers or a base for people assisting travellers who were crossing the river by the ford, especially when the water was high or when it was in spate, certainly local anglers have found it to be a convenient shelter.
Many other sites have Peden's name attached to them such as the Peden's Pulpit near Failford, another at Dalry and a Peden's Stone as well as Peden's Hut, etc.
Peden's Cave (Auchinbay)