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Bowie-bait Cave

Macduff, Mains of Melrose, Head of Garness, Aberdeenshire (Banffshire).

A small/medium sized intertidal cave with large fallen blocks making it hard to see the end of it. Unusual wider-at-top wedge shaped entrance. It faces SSW ie towards the shore.

"Nearly opposite a nice well, on the top of the brae, is seen a long narrow stretch of rocks a few feet above water. From the height, looking down, it looks a rugged, sharp-pointed, stretch of rocks, the strata being turned up on edge. Bowie-bait (1), as it is called, is much frequented by rock-fishers, as it is well out in deep water, and a bigger size of fish is caught here.

A little further on, we reach the prominent headland called the ' Outhead,' (2) from the top of which a splendid view may be had both east and west. The headland is formed of hard graywacke. The sea-front is cut up into great crevices. There is one large cave called the Pigeons' Cave, because numbers of the blue rock pigeons build their nests in it. It is accessible only by a boat, there being deep water into it for some distance.

Along the edge of the precipice are several plants growing vigorously of the real Scotch Juniper. It clings close to the rock like ivy. and is rare on this part of the coast. On the east side of the Outhead is the salmon-flshers' bothy. The adjoining shore they fish from is called Port Fife. The fish are put into creels, and carried on the fishermen's backs up the winding path, and this is the only roadway by which the fishing material can be got to the beach. The stately spotted foxglove is found just above the shore of Port Fife - it is not found on our braes west of this point." [Banffshire Field Club]

(1) OS has 'Bowie Bate' and describes it as 'A small bay west of the Head of Garness.'

(2) OS calls this point 'Head of Garness' and 'Melrose Head'.

Alternative Names: Pigeons Cave

Notes: Access: by sea only eg east from Tarlair, Macduff or west from Gardenstown.

Length is a visual minimum estimate, alt is ACD and also an estimate.