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Uamh Domhainn

Cummingston, Burghhead,, Moray/Elginshire.

Most of the caves between Cummingston and Burghead are intertidal, and run horizontal for their length. Exceptions being Lindsay's cave at 14m, Sculptor's at 10m and Jock Muldoon's at 25m.

The 1.2m square opening to this cave is at about 20m above sea level but it slopes steeply down, at about 30° for 15m before leveling off to a flat chamber about 10m deep and 8m wide. The ceiling falls from the entrance but not as steeply as the floor, so the main chamber is about 3m tall.

The cave is very similar to Lindsey's cave, before it was filled with grass cuttings, and to Jock Muldoon's cave. Both of which were inhabited as recently as the early 20th century. Although I've found no records of it being inhabited I would be surprised if it was not lived in. It has access that is not tidal and a fresh water source nearby at the wells at Riddoch's bow. [Jamie Swanson]

Alternative Names: Hell's Hole, Uamh Domhain, Domhain Cave

Notes: Close to but not identical coordinates as the east entrance to Five Door Cave.

Name taken from graffiti on cave wall.

The sandstones of the Hopeman Sandstone Formation were deposited in a large desert, dominantly in large star- and crescent-shaped aeolian sand dunes. Interbedded with these deposits are thin beds of pebbles, deposited during flash floods. The sandstones exposed at Masonshaugh Quarry preserve many fine examples of vertebrate tracks. [Scottish Geology Trust]

The Masonshaugh GCR site is part of the Burghead-Masonshaugh coastal Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and is in continuity with another GCR site selected for coverage of the Triassic Burghead Sandstone Formation. The Masonshaugh section has also been selected for the GCR independently for its fossil reptiles (Benton and Spencer, 1995). [Scottish Geology Trust]

Masonshaugh Quarries and Burghead, Geological Conservation Review site | GCR #1523 | Stratigraphy | Permian - Triassic

Hydrographic Feeds: None

Hydrographic Resurgences: None