Ship Hole (NW entrance)

An apparently straight, vertical sided tunnel running at 128 degrees through a steep sided hill - Douniefell on (2) and (3). However, there is a significant widening inside on the N side to a width of 9.5 m. This entrance is 5.2 m wide.

It has similarities with Cransdale Cave ( Collieston) and Bloody Hole (N of Bullers of Buchan) in that its tunnel points directly out to sea and goes right through the middle of a hill or promontory feature.

Notes: Access: by land from Muchalls. At low tide it is possible to wade at least part way in.

by sea - nearest is S from Newtonhill harbour; a longer paddle N from Stonehaven

Links and Resources:

1. OS1/19/10/86 "Ship Hole: A huge mass of rock, detached from the main cliff, tunneled through by the action of the waves; into which a ship run during a storm, and was wrecked. Hence the name."
2. Kincardineshire Sheet XI.SW 1902 (25in OS) maps.nls.uk/view/75632737
3. canmore.org.uk/site/37225/douniefell - an undated enclosure on the summit
4. Porcupine Marine Natural History Society: Their autumn 2019 field trip visited Stonehaven, Catterline and Muchalls. Bulletin No 14: Spring 2020 p29-42. This included this cave as part of their Muchalls survey.
5. www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6643758 Douniefell and NW entrance to Ship Hole
6. www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6643776 Closeup of NW entrance, looking through
7. registry.gsg.org.uk/files/5090/P8042976r.jpg Another closeup of the NW entrance on 4 August 22.
8. www.trove.scot/image/2778790 Similar B&W photo to 7. by BGS.
9. registry.gsg.org.uk/files/5090/PXL_240528_1244.jpg Low tide closeup taken by Iain Greig on 28 May 24.
10. registry.gsg.org.uk/files/5090/P8042972r.jpg Inside the cavern, looking towards the NW entrance on 4 August 22, when the tide level was 3.7 m.
11. registry.gsg.org.uk/files/5090/FrancesCrawfordARI.jpg A painting by Frances Crawford - looking along the Ship Hole tunnel with the view on either side. It is hung in Burnside House, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

This entry was last updated: 2025-12-22 09:38:13

Errors or omissions in this information? Submit corrections/additions/comments for this entry to the registrars.

NGR:	NO 90281 91617
WGS84:	57.01558, -2.16168
Length:	38 m
Vert. Range:	12.2 m
Altitude:	0.1 m
Geology:	Glen Lethnot Grit Formation - metamorphic
Tags:	Cave, SeaCave
Registry:	main

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