Holborn Head [Overview]

According to the First Edition OS 25 in maps, there are 17 cave systems N of Scrabster and east of (The) Clett (stack). These have 21 entrances between them and a total of 1467 m of tunnel (scaled from the map). The longest system could be 385 m more or less. If confirmed to be more, it would remove the Hol o Bordie (Papa Stour, Shetland) from its position as longest Scottish sea-cave

There are a remarkable number of gloups in this area. The largest cave system between The Brigs and north branch of The Loops has 6. There are another 3, one of which (Boiling Kettle) is said to be a working blowhole in rough weather.

Links and Resources:

1st Ed OS 25 in Caithness V.2 shows the caves and tunnels and gloups east of Clett as far as Rumbling Goes Geos.
1st Ed OS 25 in Caithness V.3 is the next sheet eastward and shows most of the east side of Holborn Head not quite as far south as Fish Scale.
1st Ed OS 25in Caithness V.6 is the sheet below V.2 and shows the extensions of cave tunnels starting on the left edge of V.7
1st Ed OS 25in Caithness V.7 is the sheet below V.3 and shows - on its left edge - the caves of Fish Scale and below (S). Several of these tunnels continue onto sheet V.6
Bramman, John; Butler, Ken; Miller, David; Myatt, Leslie; Saxon, Jack and Watson George 1982 Visits to Ancient Caithness. Caithness Field Club, Thurso. 15.
Omand, Donald 1972 The Caithness Book. Highland Printer Ltd, Inverness, Scotland. 38
Smiles, LLD, Samuel 1878 Robert Dick [1811 Jan - 1866 Dec] Baker of Thurso, Geologist and Botanist. London, John Murray. 125, 145
Steers, J A, 1973 The Coast Line of Scotland, p. 195.
Jim Salvona's Notebooks, 1984-1994, p. 147.

This entry was last updated: 2025-12-15 16:10:16

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NGR:	ND 10730 71490
WGS84:	58.62211, -3.53876
Length:	Not recorded
Vert. Range:	Not recorded
Altitude:	Not recorded
Geology:	Scrabster Flagstone Member - Siltstone And Sandstone
Tags:	Other
Registry:	second

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