Three level cave [N entrance]

A small, but complex upper intertidal cave with two entrances. Formed by the intersection of a group of three parallel joints running NS and one EW.

As you enter the S entrance, which is the mid level and supratidal, there is a lower right rift slot on the right which drops down 1.4 m to an upper intertidal level. A middle rift slot goes along about 5.2 m. On the left you climb up to a higher level, where at about 4.4 m there is a pillar. On its left is a W rift slot too narrow to go through.

On the right you can clamber through, over the middle rift slot to the upper part of the EW rift tunnel. This has a slot to a lower cave which is intertidal and whose floor is 5.6m down from the upper level. This lower cave extends 4.8 m and is 4.3 m wide about 2.5 m in.

Notes: Access: over a very rocky foreshore in bottom 2/3 of the tide from the W end of Pennan, where you can usually park. After Coral Haven. Also from Mill Shore coming the other way.

By sea and a beach landing in Coral Haven near high tide and in low swell, then north.

The length was computed as follows: S entry to N side of upper EW tunnel - 7.0 m

Links and Resources:

This cave is not indicated on any version of OS (29/9/21).
Photo 1 shows both entrances to this cave, to the right of three others immediately north of Coral Haven. Looking W on 11 August 21, near high tide.
Photo 2 shows this N entrance, with the bottom tunnel about half submerged. Taken soon after photo 1.
Photo 3 taken on 29 Sep 21 when the tide was low. The lower part of the entrance is hard to see because of the boulders in front of it. At the top, note the RH joint angled R compared to the LH one, leaving a roughly horizontal top to the entrance.
Photo 4 looking into the lower tunnel. This extends a further 1.0 m beyond the rift visible at the back and widens a bit to make a small, rounded chamber. in the main tunnel, the maximum width is 5.3 m, 4.3 of which is to the left (S).
Photo 5 looks out (E) from inside.
Photo 6 shows the rift to the upper chamber, illuminated by light from the upper part of the N entrance. From bottom floor to top floor is 5.6 m.
Photo 7 looks E out of the top part of the N entrance. Note that this can only be reached from the S entrance. The far cliff is Pennan Head.
Photo 8 looking from the top down - the opposite way from photo 6
Photo 9 looking S through the middle rift from the top level. The pillar (see S entrance photo 5) is on the right and the mid-level floor can be seen.

This entry was last updated: 2021-10-07 19:35:13

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

NGR:	NJ 84290 65692
WGS84:	57.68080, -2.26509
Length:	22 m
Vert. Range:	8.7 m
Altitude:	3 m
Geology:	Gardenstown Conglomerate Formation
Tags:	Other
Registry:	main

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