Double Mouthed Cave [W entrance]

An upper intertidal cave system based on a rift aligned 300 (WNW) and two rifts aligned 016 (N by E). The E one of the latter intersects with the WNW rift to form a large main passage between a very wind sculpted massive pillar and short promontory and the main body of the cliffs. This could be described as a bent arch. The WNW facing rift continues into a low extension ESE which can be crawled into and widens from about 3 m to about 6m. The entrance has a window. There are also blocks which give the impression that they once formed a low wall at the entrance.

There is a 5 m long low tunnel through the pillar which runs roughly 016, parallel to the N by E rift.

"A large natural arch or Cave with an Entrance on both Eastern and western Ends through which you can pass under a high Headland the arch is forty or fifty feet high in Places and very irregular in formation. It is stated that Lady Dumbar discovered some traces resembling the sculptured stones of Scotland on one of its sides, of which she made a sketch and sent it to the British Museum. There is nothing of the kind visible at preasent. But the rocks along this coast are soft freestone and the traces mentioned would be easily obliterated. Proprietor Sir William Gordon Cumming, Bart [Baronet], Altyre by Forres" ref 2

Notes: Access: Either W from Covesea village, or E from the old Coastguard lookout to a point near NJ 18513 70919 where the path goes W for 170 m or so to a lower path, from which you can go either way, but in this case W and in the bottom half of the tide.

Links and Resources:

1. 1st Ed OS 6". Current OS has two dots nearby.
2. OS Namebook for the parish of Drainie, Morayshire, p11 for Double Mouthed Cave.
3. Memories by Constance Gordon Cumming. Much of chapter 3 is devoted to the Covesea Caves.
Photo 1 looking S (near low tide) with the 'nose' or pillar of this cave central. Taken on 26 October 21.
Photo 2 shows the NE entrance and the E side of the pillar/promontory. This was taken to try and reproduce the picture opposite p402 of Memories (see below).
Illustration from Constance Gordon Cumming's autobiography 'Memories' - opposite p402. Note that she nowhere uses the name 'Double Mouthed Cave' which is from the OS Namebook. See photo 2 above. Note the rather undersized figure of (probably) a man leading a pony which (probably) has panniers on either side. Perhaps full of seaweed. Currently there is no easy way that such a pony or horse could reach this location because there is a 2m or so step down at NJ 18249 70902. There was probably a ramp maintained there then which has since been washed away.
Photo 3 looking approx SE at the W entrance.
Photo 4 looking approx SW at the E entrance - at NJ 18218 70883.
Photo 5 standing inside, and looking about NW out of the W entrance.
Photo 6 standing inside, looking with the inside of the nose and part of the W entrance on the left and part of the E entrance on the right.
Photo 7 standing inside, looking N by E out of the E entrance.
Photo 8 shows the entrance to the ESE extension with the windows on the right - not very obvious - see next photo. This and following taken 14 March 22.
Photo 9 looking WNW out of the windows from inside the extension.
Photo 10 looking ESE to the end of the extension, with the LH (NE) side.
Photo 11 looking SSE at the SW side of the extension.
Photo 12 looking out of the W entrance from inside. The S end of the 5 m tunnel through the pillar is indicated.
Photo 13 looking through the 5 m tunnel from the S end; from close to.
Photo 14 same as photo 2. Shows the big NE entrance on left and indicates where the NE entrance of the 5 m tunnel is - behind the big fallen rock.
Photo 15 looking down at the NE entrance to the 5 m tunnel from the big fallen rock.
Photo 16 looking S by W through the 5 m tunnel through the pillar.

This entry was last updated: 2023-04-09 17:21:56

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

NGR:	NJ 18208 70883
WGS84:	57.72025, -3.37473
Length:	40 m
Vert. Range:	8 m
Altitude:	4 m
Geology:	Hopeman Sandstone Formation
Tags:	Cave, Arch, SeaCave
Registry:	main

Other Sites Within 500m