Foul Hole (E entrance)

A supratidal cave tunnel which goes EW through the Horse Head. The E entrance is just above maximum high tide; the tunnel rises at about 40 degrees to the W entrance at the top of a talus pile. A rope is attached round a rock outside the W entrance which is helpful in getting up and down the tunnel slope.

The line of the joint on which this tunnel is formed is near to parallel that of the EW tunnel of Starling Cave.

Notes: Access: from beach to the west of the cave at low tide. This can be from the Sandy Creek beach on the E side of Findochty. Then round or through Starling Cave and to the W side of Horse Head. Go up the talus pile and the entrance is revealed when you reach the top of this.

Dimensions from NGRs and on the estimated 40 degree slope of the tunnel. Altitude is the estimated level ACD of the east entrance.

Links and Resources:

1st Ed OS 25 in shows this tunnel more or less correctly. In particular that this east entrance is near, but not connected to the SE entrance of Horse Head Arch. There are a number of cave dots on the current OS around Horse Head, some of which are the four Nettle caves.
The OS Namebook for Banffshire, parish of Rathven has for Foul Hole: 'An open passage or cavern in the promontory called the "Horse Head" '. Perhaps 'cavern' is simple a 'cave' in this case.
Photo 1 shows some of the west side of Horse Head on the left. The west entrance is below the top of the bright green grass of a talus pile and below the not quite vertical joint running down to that pile. Nettle caves 1 and 2 are central with Nettle 3 partially visible towards the right. 18 July 24.
Photo 2 looking down at the west entrance from the top of the talus pile on 18 July 24. Note the rope loop round a rock used to secure a blue rope down into the cave tunnel.
Photo 3 looking down at an estimated 40 degrees to the east entrance. Taken from near half way. The end of the rope can be made out at the bottom.
Photo 4 looking up through the cave tunnel from just outside the east entrance on 18 July 24.

This entry was last updated: 2025-01-07 19:00:53

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NGR:	NJ 47480 68408
WGS84:	57.70240, -2.88288
Length:	27 m
Vert. Range:	17 m
Altitude:	6 m
Geology:	Cullen Quartzite Formation - quartzite, psammite & semipelite
Tags:	Other
Registry:	main

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