Hidden Cave, The

A raised beach seacave completely hidden from coast path or sea by a tall talus pile which has its ridge about 5m N of the cliff face. It has a very similar look to Giant's Dome and Covesea 2. The space is approximately a ¼ sphere. It faces 014 (N by E). Away from the talus pile the floor is level and of dry sand. There is a 6.7 m wide and 0.64 m high extension to the S which is 9.9 m long. On the E side another wide (7.8 m), low (0.9 m initially) 3.5 m long extension which extends another 2.6 m to the N. The entrance is 15.7 m wide and 5 m from talus slope to the arch.

Notes: Access: down from the path at about NJ 16952 70338 through disused Covesea Quarry workings and then a steep rock debris slope. Slightly easier at the E end. Bottom half of tide.

Links and Resources:

OS 10 k background mapping. OS dot is about 30 m north of entrance.
RCAHMS 2012 Aerial from Canmore 16280. This cave is the second from the right.
Photo 1 looking about SW from near NJ 17174 70142. The entrance is behind the dark (old bracken) talus slope sloping left from the middle. Taken 9 Dec 21.
Photo 2 taken on 31 Dec 21 looking about SSE from the W end of the cliff 'bay' from about NJ 17091 70416. A chunk of sandstone had fallen from the top of the cliff to the left of this cave. Perhaps triggered by storm Arwen ?
Photo 3 first view of the entrance just before reaching the top of the talus ridge at its lowest part on 9 Dec 21.
Photo 4 taken on 31 Dec 21 looking down from the highest part of the talus ridge a little to the W of the cave. The fallen rocks have disturbed the topsoil.
Photo 5 looking down into the cave from under the entrance arch on the left (E) side.
Photo 6 looking N by E out of the entrance from the S side of the sandy floor.
Photo 7 the W side from the same place as photo 4.
Photo 8 the E side from the same place as photo 4. The E extension is hidden behind the fallen blocks of sandstone.
Photo 9 looking E inside the E extension. The entrance is 7.8 m wide and continues at least another 2.6 m to the left (N). On 9 Dec 21 this was not crawled into and it may go further than the LRF could point at.
Photo 10 looking roughly SW from outside the E extension towards the S wall with the entrance to the S extension at the bottom.
Photo 11 looking inside the S extension. this was also not crawled into and it looks as if there might be a bit more at the end on the right. The cave would probably be quite a bit larger if the sand was removed.
Photo 12 looking about WNW, from the same position as photo 8, up at the roughly circular flat part of the ceiling.
Photo 13 incised symbol on east wall. Dave Longstaff 6 November 19.

This entry was last updated: 2024-12-04 12:39:32

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NGR:	NJ 17133 70363
WGS84:	57.71538, -3.39259
Length:	37 m
Vert. Range:	22 m
Altitude:	20 m
Geology:	Hopeman Sandstone Formation
Tags:	Cave, SeaCave, SSSI
Registry:	main

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