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Felsite Sill Cave

S of Cave of Red Rocks, Altens, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, (Kincardineshire).

Raised sea cave.

A supratidal, vertical rift cave midway up the cliff has been formed by erosion of the same fractured felsite sill exposed at Cave of the Red Rocks in the next inlet to the north.  The  entrance, which has a small waterfall over it, is approx. 5m high.

The cave measures a total of 20m long from the dripline to its end where it suddenly closes down. The 'proper' cave section begins 5m in from the dripline. Beyond this is 10m of narrow rock pool that can be bridged (presumably topped up by breaking waves rather than the tide), followed by 5m of dry cave floored by felsite breakdown. [I Greig]

Alternative Names: None recorded.

Notes: Access: down a well-worn track from a prominent bend in the main coastal path, which involves a steep set of bedrock 'steps'. The cave is located at the head of the steep, sheltered inlet, and has an exposed steep algal-covered drop below its entrance. It can be accessed by skirting around the inclined northern edge of its inlet with great care (dangerous drop below), but requires prolonged dry conditions to do so (as the algae becomes too slippery when wet). [I. Greig]

This cave was first recorded by Iain Greig 17/4/23.