Needle's Eye [N entrance, Cullykhan]

The south entrance is narrow and 7 m tall and looks very much like the eye of a needle - much more so than most of the other caves with this name. But the narrow part only extends 15 m before opening out into a cavern which is 24 m wide at its widest. The cavern is nearly all intertidal. It has three small cave extensions on the west side - a narrow rift 4 m long, near this entrance; a larger rift tunnel 9 m long in the middle and a 3.4 m alcove a bit further south. On the east side, near this entrance, but overhung by it, is a side tunnel running about 18 m east where it meets the tunnel from the NE entrance. The NE entrance tunnel runs S for a total of 27 m. There are three rift extensions totalling a further 16 m.

Notes: Access: by sea NW from Mill Shore or Pennan, or New Aberdour or E from Gardenstown. Preferably near high tide.

Main cavern measured 23/8/25 by N Feilden. Initial estimates by Iain Greig in 2021. The main cavern totalled 67 m consisting of 51 m between N and S entrances plus a further 16 m for the 3 small side tunnels. The ENE tunnel and the NE entrance tunnel were measured to add a further 61 m on 5/9/25. This consists of 18 m for the ENE tunnel, 26.5 m for the wide part of the tunnel S from the NE entrance, and 16.2 m for the three rift extensions.

Links and Resources:

1st Ed OS 25 in shows 'Needle's Eye' below the S entrance and dotted lines coloured buff - like the beach - opening into a fairly accurate outline of the cavern. The E tunnel and the NE entrance are not indicated.
Transcription of OS Namebook for Banffshire, parish of Gamrie, p6. This shows that originally 'Needle's Eye' applied to the narrow passage, and 'Devil's Dining Room' applied to the cavern. The measurements of width and height are significantly underestimated.
Photo 1 shows most of this entrance from a bit outside at high tide. It is not in line with the rift, so light does not show through. The rift itself can be seen to the right of the red kayak. Taken 8/4/21. The paddler is looking left, perhaps at the S entrance to the E tunnel - which is out of shot.
Photo 2 taken 19/5/25 at a lower tide level, and from in line with the rift and light from the S entrance showing. A side view of the S entrance to the E tunnel is about half way between the two kayaks.
Photo 3 similar to photo 1, but at low tide. A comparison shows that the floor of the cavern is lower on the left (E). This includes a couple of medium sized rock pools. Taken 14/5/19.
Photo 4 the south wall of the cavern taken from near the N entrance. Comparison of the sides of the rift joint raise the suspicion that it may be faulted. Taken 23/8/25.
Photo 5 as photo 5, but portrait so that the rift joint across the ceiling can be seen more clearly. 23/8/25.
Photo 6 looking W from near the N entrance at the small rift tunnel in the S wall. It is at the bottom of the rift leaning about 50 degrees right (N). 23/8/25.
Photo 7 closeup of the entrance of the rift tunnel of photo 6. It is 4.0 m long by laser distance meter. 23/8/25.
Photo 8 looking at the middle cave extension from the N entrance and on the main rift line. 23/8/25.
Photo 9 as photo 8, but with the tide up on 11/10/19.
Photo 10 the same entrance as photo 8, from close to. The rock in the middle is bedrock. 23/8/25.
Photo 11 looking inside the tunnel of photos 8 -11. 23/8/25.
Photo 12 shows the southern cave extension of the three. It adds 3.4 m to the total length. Taken 23/8/25.
Photo 13 looking E from just outside the middle cave extension (photos 8-11) at the S entrance to the E tunnel. Taken 23/8/25.
Photo 14 approaching the west entrance to the east tunnel. 29/8/25.
Photo 15 looking through the W entrance to the E tunnel. The light at the end is from the NE entrance. 29/8/25.
Photo 16 inside the E tunnel on 29/8/25. At this tide level of 3.0 m ACD it looked as if another 0.2 m would be advisable for making a through passage.
Photo 17 a bit further along the E tunnel from photo 9. The extension tunnel from the NE entrance goes off to the right (S). 29/8/25.
See entry for the NE entrance for more photos taken on 5/9/25.

This entry was last updated: 2025-09-19 19:59:19

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

NGR:	NJ 83782 66196
WGS84:	57.68531, -2.27365
Length:	127 m
Vert. Range:	14 m
Altitude:	3 m
Geology:	Gardenstown Conglomerate Formation - conglomerate
Tags:	Other
Registry:	main

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