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cave [Hell's Hole]
West sandend, Whinneyfold, Aberdeenshire.
| NGR: | NK 07594 32312 |
| WGS84: | 57.38119, -1.87535 |
| Length: | 25 m |
| Vert. Range: | 8 m |
| Altitude: | -1 m |
| Geology: | Collieston Formation - metamorphic pelite, semipelite & psammite |
| Tags: | Cave, SeaCave |
| Registry: | main |
Shown on 1st Ed 25 in OS as a tunnel through the headland on the S side of Hell's Hole (inlet) running about NNW/SSE.
However, as photo 2 shows, this is not the case. There is a rift tunnel running quite sharply right of the initially 5.7 m wide and 5 m long tunnel which is aligned about S by W. The rift tunnel is much narrower and runs 20 - 30 m WSW.
There is no S entrance to this cave at or near NK 07600 32293 (confirmed 22 June 23 by N Feilden).
Alternative Names: None recorded.
Notes: Access: by sea N from Collieston or S from Port Errol, Cruden Bay
Links and Resources:
- 1st Ed OS 25in map showing this entrance to a tunnel shown going SSW straight through the headland. The map is on the S edge of the parish of Cruden - but this cave is in the parish of Slains as the boundary bisects Hell's Hole. It is drawn on the Slains sheet which joins this one, but in such a way as to obscure the fact that there is a entrance in Hell's Hole.
- The OS Namebook for Aberdeenshire, Cruden has:
Hell's Hole:"This name is applied to a small creek, situated at the place where the parishes of Slains & Cruden join on the coast; it is well known and is said to be a very dangerous place."
Cave [Hell's Hole]: "This is a small cave situated in the creek mentioned above, and properly speaking, in the parish of Slains." OS1/1/22(Cruden)/178 Note that there is no mention of 'subterraneous passage' in this description.
- The current OS has 'caves' and a dot for each entrance, but no connection indicated (Canmore L10).
- Photo 1 is a view of Hell's Hole taken from about NK 07557 32339 on 31 Jul 21. The N entrance is evident on the RH (S) side of the geo, but is angled obliquely from the photo position.
- Photo 2 shows the entrance from sea level on 23 June 22, when the tide level was about 1.0 m ACD. Note the rounded boulders under water which were covered by about 0.5 m. There is a rift tunnel at the end on the right which appeared to be between 20 and 30 m long by eye. There might be a tunnel at the end going left. On this day there was too much swell even to photograph it.
- Photo 3 taken after photo 2, looking up to the cliff top.
- Partial sketch shows the tunnel drawn over Bing Aerial, with caves immediately S of Hell's Hole. Note that neither this cave nor the other 3 have been measured to the end for length as of 22 June 23.
This entry was last updated: 2023-06-25 16:35:28
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