Wine Cove (1)

This seacave is a wide cavern across the whole 35m width of the 135m long geo which leads to it. It has a fairly steep pebble beach and there are two much narrower extension tunnels at the back, which look as if they might go further if the pebbles were removed. The larger (N) extension tunnel has a triangular c/s with dH = 7.5m and W = 8m. The smaller (S) is also triangular in c/s with dH = 3.4m and W = 6m.

Notes: This cave and the neighbouring Wine Cove (2) are a haul-out site for grey seals and probably a pupping site as well.

During the below survey, an Eider duck was found nesting far inside the N cave extension.

Access: by sea: N from Catterline or S from Stonehaven - it is about midway between these. Better in top 1/3 of tide.

by land: it can be seen (see photo 2) eg across fields from a parking place at NO 87646 81624 and due E.

Links and Resources:

Measurements from a length survey 1 May 19 by N Feilden.
Ordnance Survey Namebook OS1/19/6/85 Wine Cove: "A large natural cavern under the Cliffs, in former times, frequented by Smugglers." This latter is more believable than for some other 'smuggler's' caves. It is reasonably well sheltered for a landing, and very well sheltered from view. The inner caves offer good and fairly dry storage. The cliff above would allow the hauling up of kegs by rope. The 1st Ed 25 in does not indicate this cave, but it does show the small burn which falls roughly half way across the entrance when there is water in it.
Scan from BGS 1:10000 NO88SE solid and drift. This shows a fault which runs along the north side of the geo. It appears to be the joint on which the north extension tunnel has been formed. The fault is roughly parallel to the two across Trelung Bay to the south.
Photo 1 shows this cave from about half way along the geo.
Photo 2 looking along the geo from its S cliff. The fault can be seen clearly on the right (N) of the end of the geo. 29 Sep 19.
Photo 3 looking S from the N end of the beach on 1 May 19. Gives a good idea of the cavern part. The entrance to Wine Cove (2) can just be made out on the left. (More capable cameras do a better job of coping with the extreme lighting range.)
Photo 4 looking out of the N tunnel on 1 May 19. The line is a measuring tape. Note the gravel ridge.
Photo 5 looking inwards (W) inside the N tunnel.
Photo 6 looking into the end (W) of the S tunnel.

This entry was last updated: 2026-03-11 17:45:31

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

NGR:	NO 87936 81833
WGS84:	56.92764, -2.19983
Length:	77 m
Vert. Range:	18 m
Altitude:	-1 m
Geology:	Whitehouse Conglomerate Formation
Tags:	Cave, SeaCave
Registry:	main

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