Trip Report – Arbroath Sea Caves

Another Arbroath trip. The day was sunny and calm, in fact the sea looked rather dull. The most interesting view was the large new offshore array of wind turbines being built which looked pretty epic. We walked on the cliff top path to Dickman’s Den, entered the water by the cave there and swam around to Lady’s cave and did the Deil’s Dungeon in low tide, an adventure. The three storey house looked grim and full of crap, so we passed on that adventure. Then a long walk to dark and light caves, and a push through nettles and smelly plants down into the depths of forbidden cave where we appreciated the insensitivity of the old archaeological dig having ruined the walls with painted numbers.

On the return journey we were met with rising tides. We had a good look in Mason’s cave and noticed the weird formations and nest at the back. Then went over to the Blowhole and got in the sea at the front (i.e. did not do the jump). I was truly frightened by this cave. A horrible monstrous thundering boom comes from within after swimming under the blow hole. Jessie went first, a narrow gap/fissure takes you into the dark depths where the swell, while small, has potential to drown you. Jessie went to the end, the water goes up and down a lot in the long swells, you could get caught out and I don’t recommend. The booming sound got louder and the massive change in water levels more unpredictable. I thought Jessie was in trouble TBH as she disappeared behind waves (basically looked like she was underwater), I can’t imagine how dangerous this would be in even slightly choppy water. I freaked out and swam out as soon as I could, while Jessie thought it was fun. After that, there was a lot of swimming into Betwixt cave (lovely rounded stones on one beach and weird mud covering calcite curtains at the end of the other branch). We then did what I think is the most beautiful cave The Crusie East Cave which has a branch full of fine stalagmites and some stalactites. Then onwards to Mermaids Kirk where many, many, many people were fishing and there were loads of tourists. A child thought we were weird coming out of the sea and a bull seal came and staired at us for a long time.

The team then split, with Jessie and Tony doing the classic Mermaid’s Kirk through trip, and the rest of us heading into the cave marked as ‘Bunkbed’ in the database, which has the narrow passage which joins a T-junction and the main cave being epic, like being in a Whale’s stomach, quite a few stall too. Stalagmite cave was then entered by swimming, but it is boring in high tide, I would not recommend – no shapely passage or interesting echo. We then stumbled around the headland back to the car where I had haggis and chips with cheese sauce and more cheese on top of that. A great day out!

— Tam