Duttfield Cave 4

Duttfield, Fair Isle, Shetland.

NGR:	HZ 22051 72143
WGS84:	59.53463, -1.61190
Length:	10 m
Vert. Range:	7 m
Altitude:	-1 m
Geology:	Ward Hill Sandstone Formation - sandstone and dolomitic siltstone
Tags:	Cave, SeaCave
Registry:	main

'Entered by snorkeller 19/8/21. Rift entrance with a short (~1 m) parallel fissure to the right (east) which may appear to be a cave when viewed at a distance. Entrance estimated ~1 m wide at waterline with ceiling ~6 m ACD. Width & height remain similar throughout. Cave floor with boulders & cobbles. Floor at ~1 m BCD at entrance, remaining shallow within and intertidal beach (>1 m ACD) in the back ~4 m of the cave. Passage length estimated at ~10 m. Partially illuminated at back of cave. ' [Report 1145]

Alternative Names: CI31

Notes: Dimensions were estimated.

This location appears to be 'in the sea' on the OS map at top right. This is because the coastline on this map layer does not match aerial layers - such as Google or Bing.

Links and Resources:

Shetland, Sheet LXIX (includes: Dunrossness), Survey date: 1878 Publication date: 1881.
Photo 1 shows 5 of the Duttfield caves in context. This one is CI31, second from the right. They all face about SW by W following the strike of the sandstone layers. p43 of FI Caves (GSG version) which is an annexe of Report 1145.
Photo 2 shows the view into the initial part of the cave tunnel from just outide the entrance. Also a sketch plan. p46 of FI Caves (GSG version) which is an annexe of Report 1145.
Rpt 1145 Harries, D.B., Purcell, A., Moore, C.G., Lyndon A.R., Porter, J.S., Saunders, G.R. and Hume, C.L. 2024. Distribution mapping and baseline monitoring survey of sea caves around Fair Isle. NatureScot Research Report 1145.

This entry was last updated: 2025-05-14 17:38:31

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