Needle's Eye [NE entrance, Cullykhan]

This intertidal rift entrance leads roughly south for an estimated 10 m, where it meets on its west side a tunnel running ENE from the main cavern joins it - 18 m long. The tunnel from this entrance continues a further 16.5 m after the join. Over this stretch, the floor is bedrock and is like wave-cut platform. At the end, in the west corner is one of the three rift extensions which adds 5.6 m. Its axis is 188 degrees (S by W) A second one appears to be an extension of the joint plane of the south wall of the ENE tunnel on the E side of the tunnel from the NE entrance. It is 5.7 m long and its axis is 065 (NE). The third faces the second and is in the corner of the angle between the S side of the ENE tunnel and the W side of the tunnel continuing from the NE entrance. It is 4.9 m long and widens from 1.0 m at the entrance to 1.9 m inside. Its axis is 231 degrees (SW).

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

by land from the beach of Cullykhan Bay at low tide and through the S entrance. See photos.

The main cavern was measured on 23/8/25 and 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 ENE tunnel and the NE entrance are not indicated.
Photo 1 this shows part of the north cliff of Cullykhan. This entrance is just above the bow of the red kayak. Taken 19/5/22. Photo 2 looking toward this NE entrance. Taken 29/8/25.
Photo 3 this entrance from just outside with a tide level of 3.0 m ACD. The headroom was fine - see photo 4. 29/8/25.
Photo 4 just inside looking along the extension tunnel. The ENE tunnel from the main cavern goes right (west) from just round the corner. 29/8/25. Note the deeper, narrower part of the channel below.
Photo 5 looking along the extension tunnel on 14/5/19. The floor is mostly bedrock and the side walls are concave low down from wave plus pebble erosion.
Photo 6 looking E from just outside the middle cave extension (inside the main cavern) at the W entrance to the ENE tunnel. This is just overhung by the main cavern, and therefore considered to be part of the same cave system. Taken 23/8/25.
Photo 7 approaching the west entrance to the ENE tunnel. 29/8/25.
Photo 8 looking through the W entrance to the ENE tunnel. The light at the end is from this NE entrance. 29/8/25.
Photo 9 inside the ENE 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 10 a bit further along the ENE tunnel from photo 9. The extension tunnel from the NE entrance goes off to the right (S). The entrance to the second rift extension is about 1/4 from the left and the rift leans about 45 degrees left (N). 29/8/25.
Photo 11 much the same view as photo 9, at low tide. Taken 5/9/25.
Photo 12 a bit further along the ENE tunnel, looking half right (ESE). Shows the corner on the right btween the S wall of the ENE tunnel and the W wall of the tunnel from the NE entrance. 5/9/25.
Photo 13 looking half left (roughly NNE) while standing in a deeper bit. It shows a wave-cut-platform-like bedrock higher level. 5/9/25.
Photo 14 looking about ENE at the lower floor level. Light from the left from the NE entrance. 5/9/25
Photo 15 looking S along the wide part of the tunnel from the NE entrance while standing at the junction withe the ENE tunnel. There is a rock dove on the left wall, fairly high up. 5/9/25
Photo 16 looking N through the NE entrance showing the channel through the 'wave-cut-platform'. 5/9/25
Photo 17 looking N through the NE entrance from the S end of the wide part of this tunnel. The rift line can be seen above, and below - though less obviously. 5/9/25
Photo 18 from the same spot as photo 17; looking slightly W of S along the first rift extension. It measured 5.6 m by LDM. Note orange buoy near the end. 5/9/25.
Photo 19 looking into the second rift extension which is 5.7 m long by LDM. It is in line with the E end of the ENE tunnel - see photo 10. 5/9/25.
Photo 20 looking up at the E side of the tunnel from the NE entrance. Taken for the fairly thin flowstone deposit. It also appears that the pale layer taking up most of the frame is a bit different from the darker, more conglomeratic layer below. 5/9/25.
Photo 21 looking about SW at the entrance to the third rift extension. The light on the right is from the west entrance to the ENE tunnel. The photo was taken tilted ca 10 degrees anticlockwise from level. 5/9/25.
Photo 22 a closer look into the third rift extension. It extends 4.9 m; is 1.5 m wide at the entrance and 2.4 m floor to ceiling. It widens to 1.9 m inside. It runs 231 degrees (SW) 5/9/25.

This entry was last updated: 2025-09-19 19:49:55

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NGR:	NJ 83814 66216
WGS84:	57.68549, -2.27311
Length:	127 m
Vert. Range:	5 m
Altitude:	1 m
Geology:	Gardenstown Conglomerate Formation - conglomerate
Tags:	Other
Registry:	main

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