Petrie's Hole

A tall narrow cave which is at least 74 m long. There was room to turn round ie >5.5m wide inside 35m or so in, at a pillar, near HW. At LW 1.4 m, it was measured at 4.5 m - ie only shorter boats can turn around there. The main tunnel at this location is a bit deeper than at the entrance - 8.2 m BCD. There is a short branch rift tunnel on the right (N). It is not kayak navigable, but on 24/7/25 it looked as though it may widen a couple of metres down and so be available to a diver. It contributes 4 m to the total length meantime.

On the left (S) there is a kayak navigable channel which is at least 31 m long. At a tide level of about 1.4 m, it appeared to be blocked at that distance by a low rock wall. A previous visit at high tide recorded "a beach" beyond this.

Partial measurement using a laser distance measure on 24/7/25 by N Feilden. Awaits a high tide visit to complete the length measurement in the southern extension tunnel.

Links and Resources:

OS 25in per mile, 1st Edition. This shows an outline parallel to S Seals - which it is not. The line of the cave up to the dividing pillar faces 107 degrees ie E by S - measured 8 Jul 21.
5 Sep 18: 18.7 m ACD; depth 6.9 m BCD by N Feilden.
OS Namebook for Cruden parish, Aberdeenshire p115: "A small cave, situated on the south side of the South Seals Cave."
Photo 1 shows the entrance from 50m or so on 8 July 21 near a 1.3 m low tide.
Photo 2 shows the entrance on 5 July 18 from fairly close.
Photo 3 looking out from inside on 5 July 18.
Photo 4 taken from ca 10m inside on 8 July 21.
Photo 5 shows the pillar. The tunnel continues on the left. 5 Sep 18.
Photo 6 the pillar at a lower tide level of 1.4 m ACD taken on 24/7/25. White (ascomycete) sparkles were observed high up on the N side.
Photo 7 the north rift extension tunnel. It looked as though it may be wide enough a metre or two down to allow dive access.
Photo 8 the south rift extension tunnel runs at an unmeasured angle roughly west by south (main tunnel W by N) and is completely dark from a few metres in.
Photo 9 as photo 8, but looking about 45 degrees upward. Note the green algal crust higher up on the pillar, with red crust below - showing more light for the green. On the left, there is no green or red; a buff deposit only.
Photo 10 taken a few metres along the S extension tunnel. The flat face in line with the kayak's bow measured 12 m along from the pillar of photos 5 and 6.

This entry was last updated: 2025-07-27 18:01:31

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NGR:	NK 11110 37616
WGS84:	57.42876, -1.81664
Length:	74 m
Vert. Range:	26 m
Altitude:	-6.9 m
Geology:	Peterhead Granite
Tags:	Cave, SeaCave
Registry:	main

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