*cave (Long Slough E)

An unnamed subtidal, vertical rift seacave running at least 77m NNE into the N side of the cliff Long Slough, and opposite a stack which is on the S side. (1) It is 3.6 m wide at the entrance. At 59 m inside the ceiling is at 8.3 m ACD and the floor at 0.0 m ACD.

On 10 July 26, there was a family of shags on the high ledge on the east side of the first chamber.

Notes: Access: by sea eg N from Cove Bay Harbour. For going further than 26 m into the cave a tide level between 1.3 m ACD and about 2.0 m is probably best. At 1.3 m there were some narrow parts which needed hands on each side - but not tight to the kayak.

The length currently (24/5/23) is 26 m to the narrows (see Photo 5) and a minimum of 59 m by string from kayak and 18 m by laser beyond that - measured 10/7/26 by N Feilden.

Links and Resources:

1. 25 in OS Kincardineshire IV.7 1882 scaled length 21 m.
Photo 1 this cave entrance is on the right. Taken by Iain Greig 17/4/23.
Photo 2 this cave is tall 17.5 m ACD. Taken by Iain Greig 17/4/23.
Photo 3 entrance on 19 May 23 - when the tide level was 3.9 m ACD at 15:00 BST.
Photo 4 inside, looking up at the ceiling, lit by reflected sunlight.
Photo 5 inside, looking to the narrows; taken 19/5/23. On 24 May 23, the narrows were estimated to be 0.4 m wide ie swim only at that tide level of 3.5 m.
Photo 6 much as photo 5, but at a tide level of 1.3 m. Note the pale yellow feature in the red algal crust zone on the left wall and match it with the previous photo. It was possible to paddle and hand pull to 58 m from the entrance. 10/7/26.
Photo 7 the moored float, with greenstring around it, is at 58 m inside. It is fully dark here because the tunnel turned a few degrees right (E) at about 35 m inside. On 10/7/26 it was too tricky to go further because the swell increased here. A reading of 18 m further in was obtained on a laser distance meter, but the end was not seen and the cave is almost certainly a bit longer. There were very many moon jellyfish here - which give the purple effect in the water.
Photo 8 a look up at the ceiling from the same place as the previous photo. 10/7/26.

This entry was last updated: 2026-07-13 12:55:14

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NGR:	NJ 96535 02968
WGS84:	57.11764, -2.05885
Length:	77 m
Vert. Range:	20.5 m
Altitude:	-3 m
Geology:	Aberdeen Formation - metamorphic
Tags:	Cave, SeaCave
Registry:	main

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