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Langet Cave (northeast)

Portknockie, Aberdeenshire, Banffshire.

Tidal sea cave. North-east (sea) entrance in sloping rift with small 'stumpy' pillar separating the lower part from a smaller upper entrance which is accessible at low tide in good conditions. A well worn path leads down the rock face from the upper entrance to the back of the cave where the inland (land) entrance [NJ 49250 68766] is easily accessable.

High intertidal to about 1/4 of the way in from the sea entrance. Axis is 061 which is parallel to that of the Bow Fiddle. The structure is similar too, with a curved ceiling higher on the NW side following stronger rock layers.

Alternative Names: Stumpy Pillar Cave

Notes: It occurred to me that, with a visually rather substantial amount of rock being supported at one corner by this pillar, it might be in some danger of collapse. However my estimated weight on it came out at about

850 tonnes, which with (again estimated) pillar diameter of 2m gives a compressive pressure of about 2.6 MPa. I found a compressive strength for quartzite in the range 150 to 300 MPa so there would appear to be a considerable safety margin... (Nigel Feilden)