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Muchalls (Overview)

Seacliff, Muchalls,Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, (Kincardineshire).

There is a seacave/subterranean passage through Douniefell called Ship Hole.

There are several arches around Strunie Saddle.

The top of Douniefell has Canmore site 37225 which is an enclosure (period unassigned).

There are a couple of cave dots and an arch around Doonie Point - which is the next headland southwards.

EXPLORATION OF A FAMOUS CAVE AT MUCHALL.S.- We extract the following from the Free Press of 26th May [1896]:--

"About a mile to the south of the Railway Station at Muchalls, on the seashore, is the noted Blackhill's Cave. All the information to be got regarding it from people in the neighbourhood is mostly vague theory, the common belief being that it goes to Muchalls Castle-about a mile away. It is also said that long ago a piper went into it playing, but never came back. A day or two ago two men set off, determined to explore the cave from end to end, or, like the piper, return no more. Their efforts were successful. The extreme length of the cave is 300 ſeet, the height from the entrance to the top of the rock above is close on 200 feet, and the width at the entrance 41 feet. The first part of the cave is a spacious vaulted chamber 130 feet long in a straight line, 16 feet wide, and from 40 to 50 feet high. Above the entrance inside, the roof is covered with three different species of beautiful ferns, in full foliage. The next part of the cave for 100 feet is little more than 3 feet wide, in one or two places being only 16 inches. The height is from 30 to 40 feet. The last part widens all at once into a splendid apartment 70 feet long, 10 feet wide, and about 11 feet high, with a floor of beach gravel sand, perfect, pure, and uniform. In this part is the stillness of the grave and the gloom is terrible, but with a candle or two it has a fairy-like aspect. The cave is quite dry from end to end; the tide at high water does not come within several feet of the entrance. There is a footpath by the cliffs all the way from the railway station. Mr. Jamieson, Stranathro, Muchalls, will conduct any who may apply to him to the cave." [Scottish Notes and Queries]

There is a deep gulley between the railway at Blackhills and Tilly Tenant. This may or may not be the site of the 'famous cave' which may have collapsed (see cave 1-3, N of Tilly Tenant). [Unlikely as the gulley appears on the 1865 OS map while the cave seems to have still existed in 1896. A more likely prospect is the cave halfway between Tilly Tenant and Castle of Muchalls (see cave, S of Castle Rock of Muchalls) which is marked as a cave on the 1865 map]

From Muchalls Castle to the sea is a secret cave, about one mile long, which smugglers once used. The cave is said to be haunted by the green lady. The cave has been boarded up at the castle end and at the sea. The portion of the cave near Muchalls's bridge has collapsed just below the railway line. [Wikipedia]

Alternative Names: None recorded.

Notes: Access: The East coast railway line restricts access to the beach.

There is an underpass at NO 90091 91781 with limited parking.

The reference to a passage to Muchalls Castle may be a conflation of the two locations Muchalls Castle and the Castle Rock of Muchalls which was also called the Castle of Muchalls.

The piper legend is a generic legend which seems to be linked to many supposedly secret caves most of which are of no great length.