*seacave (SC3)

A small, low ceilinged, intertidal seacave. The entrance is rounded. There is a small apse at the back of the cave, in the middle, with a tiny pebble beach. The rest of the cave floor is solid conglomerate, with a few large boulders. The floor has many pools and much of its surface is pink. The cave is unusual in that a) it not formed along any obvious rift b) it is only intertidal - full at high tide and empty at low tide.

A channel between the intertidal rocks of the wave-cut platform leads to the entrance aligned ENE and suggesting it may once have been longer. Used as a haulout by seals.

Notes: Access: by sea eg from Catterline - in low swell. Landing possible near low tide.

Length measured using laser measure by Nigel Feilden 7 May 21. Width at entrance measured at 10.4 m.

Links and Resources:

Current OS cave dot is about 5m too far E.
Photo 1 shows this cave in its context, about 1m below high water. This one is on the left.
Photo 2 of the entrance taken on 2 Jul 20, soon after photo 1.
Photo 3 the approach to the entrance taken 7 May 21 near low water.
Photo 4 taken soon after Photo 3. Note how the ceiling slopes down to be low and fairly level from 10 m or so inside.
Photo 5 shows the interior from inside with the pink of the rocky floor and red in the splash zone above the high water level.
Photo 6 looking out from well inside. The N end of Craiglethy can be made out.
Photo 7 the apse and the tiny pebble beach. The length of the apse is 3.6 m, width 4.5 m and height 2.3 m floor to ceiling. There are almost no pebbles loose in the rest of the cave, and no sand anywhere. High tide level is about half way up this end wall.

This entry was last updated: 2021-05-08 17:04:44

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

NGR:	NO 87878 81220
WGS84:	56.92213, -2.20075
Length:	32 m
Vert. Range:	10 m
Altitude:	1 m
Geology:	Whitehouse Conglomerate Formation
Tags:	Cave, SeaCave
Registry:	main

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