East rift cave (The Coves)

A tall narrow, subtidal cave formed from a rift about 10 deg E of vertical through horizontal rock layers. Smoothly eroded sides. Faces NNW. A big patch of flowstone deposit high up in the first chamber. The entrance is 2.2 m wide. It then widens to 8.2 m inside. There are two rift extensions of unknown length - which may only be accessible by diving.

Notes: Access: by sea: west from New Aberdour, Pennan or Mill Shore or East from Gardenstown.

Length is a rough estimate. Vertical range, altitude and widths measured 25/5/26 by N Feilden.

Links and Resources:

Not indicated as a cave on any OS map layer. However, the stretch of cliffs is named 'The Coves' which suggests there are several.
Photo 1 a context photo looking SSE. This cave is the tall rift leaning a bit left (NE) and slightly right of the middle. Taken 13/9/25.
Photo 2 The entrance from closer and a much lower tide. Taken 14/5/19.
Photo 3 Inside the first chamber on 14/5/19.
Photo 4 Inside the first chamber on 29/8/25 near high tide. Note the large patch of flowstone high up.
Photo 5 inside the first chamber at a tide level of 1.2 m on 25/5/26. Suggests that the two extension tunnels widen lower down. The depth in the chamber is 4.8 m BCD so these tunnels could be wider below this water level.

This entry was last updated: 2026-06-02 16:33:22

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NGR:	NJ 83328 66537
WGS84:	57.68836, -2.28128
Length:	25 m
Vert. Range:	26 m
Altitude:	-4.8 m
Geology:	Gardenstown Conglomerate Formation - conglomerate
Tags:	Cave, SeaCave
Registry:	main

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