The Crusie East Cave

A subtidal sea cave at the end of the inlet/geo marked on current OS maps as the Crusie. The name 'The Crusie' applies to the prominent blow hole on the west side of the inlet (see The Crusie & The Crusie [S]) and photo 2.

The tunnel forks into two 40m inside. The video shows a passage along the SW, shorter branch. This left branch is quite narrow until you get near to the beach. The RH (NW) branch is wider and higher with a considerable amount of flowstone and some actinomycete (bacterial) sparkles up high.

At 36 m in, the floor is at +1.0 m ACD (in line with the pillar; deeper at the sides) and the ceiling 11.7 m ACD. The width is 6.6 m (with a tide level of 4.6 m) and it is easy to turn a long kayak round there.

Notes: Access: by sea, in low swell. The first 40 m can be reached with the tide as low as 0.7 m. The SW (left) tunnel is probably best between 2 m and 4.5 m. The RH tunnel needs 4 m or more. See photos.

This cave system has not been fully measured yet (10 Sep 21). The current estimate is 40 m to the dividing pillar; a visual estimate of 30m for the SW branch and a guesstimate of 50m for the RH branch.

Length, VR and alt are guesses by N Feilden, based on the video and a sketch by Cameron Smith. The cave system may well be a longer than 120m.

Links and Resources:

Current OS cave dot - eg Canmore. Nothing here on older 6in or 25in maps.
video 1 by George Ramsay, shows a kayak trip starting part way along the geo and following the SW fork as far as a beach. Note that there is red lighting as a sort of halo around the white light.
Photo 1 looking along the geo at about 1/3 tide 15:04 BST 18 Aug 21. Compare photo 2.
photo 2 is a view from the cliff top showing the Crusie on the right and looking seaward along the geo which leads to the cave - under the photographer's feet - who does not appear to be aware of that fact.
Photo 3 shows the cliff above the entrance. Note that there is a little sea visible near bottom in the middle. Also 14 Aug 21 just after photo 1.
Photo 4 looking out of the entrance from 15-20 m inside. Taken after photo 3.
Photo 5 approaching the entrance at 11:26 BST on 10 Sep 21 when the tide level was about 0.8 m.
Photo 6 taken just after photo 5. The big rock on the right and the smaller one to its left can be made out in photo 5. At this tide level, it was just possible to paddle round the left side of the small rock.
Photo 7 taken at 11:31 BST after photo 6. This shows the dividing pillar at 40 m inside the cave. The RH branch is not navigable at this tide level.
Photo 8 taken just after photo 7. This is the left branch. There may be a way round on the left, but it was not attempted on this occasion. Another 1 m or so of tide depth would make it a lot easier. The dividing pillar is at top right.
Photo 9 shows the dividing pillar, on the same day, but at 14:53 BST by which time the tide level was 3.9 m. At this level it was comfortable to paddle along the left branch, although rather narrow in places (see video). 50 min later, when the level was 4.6 m, it looked short of headroom.
Photo 10 the beach at the end of the left (SW) branch. The striking stripes of flowstone are all along the tunnel.
Photo 11 was taken looking up at the ceiling of the RH (NW) branch just after photo 9. The reality is a lot better and the sparkles have not registered.

This entry was last updated: 2021-09-14 20:53:00

Errors or omissions in this information? Submit corrections/additions/comments for this entry to the registrars.

NGR:	NO 66617 41519
WGS84:	56.56444, -2.54480
Length:	120 m
Vert. Range:	15 m
Altitude:	-3.4 m
Geology:	Scone Sandstone Formation
Tags:	Cave, SeaCave
Registry:	main

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