Ebbing Stane

Island in Angus

Scotland

Ebbing Stane

Cliffs in Carlingheugh Bay The cleft in the cliff is a fault which has been exploited by the sea to form the Dark Cave, one of two caves that extend right through the headland to the next bay. The other one, the Light Cave, is further to the right. When you enter the Light cave, you can see the light at the other end, but the Dark Cave is, as its name suggests, completely dark. Bring a torch if you&#039;re going to explore it, and mind your head inside. The slightly wavy almost vertical feature next to the cave entrance is a vein of baryte (Barium sulphate, BaSO4, also known as barite and barytes). This has leached out of the sandstone and there are several such veins in the vicinity. Baryte is very dense (about 4½ tonnes per cubic metre, compared with sandstone which has a density of about 2¼ tonnes per cubic metre) and is used to make drilling mud to seal oil wells, and it is the most important ore of barium, which has many uses in medicine, engineering and other fields. See <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baryte" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baryte">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>. — Cliffs in Carlingheugh Bay Credit: Anne Burgess

Ebbing Stane is a small island located off the coast of Angus, Scotland. It is situated in the North Sea, approximately 2 miles from the mainland. The island is known for its unique geological formation, which gives it its name. The term "stane" is Scots for "stone," and "ebbing" refers to the island's exposure during low tide.

Ebbing Stane is a flat, rocky island that measures around 300 meters in length and 200 meters in width. It is predominantly composed of sandstone and shale, with scattered patches of grass and low vegetation. The island is uninhabited and lacks any permanent structures or facilities.

During high tide, Ebbing Stane is almost completely submerged, with only a small rocky outcrop visible above the water. However, as the tide recedes, it gradually emerges, revealing its unique features. At low tide, visitors can access the island by foot or by boat, as the waters surrounding it become shallow enough.

The island is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and photographers due to its picturesque and isolated setting. It offers stunning views of the surrounding coastline and is home to a variety of seabirds and marine life. Visitors should be cautious when exploring the island, as the terrain can be slippery and treacherous, especially during wet weather.

Overall, Ebbing Stane is a small, captivating island that offers a glimpse into the natural beauty of the Angus coastline.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Ebbing Stane Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.588685/-2.5149751 or Grid Reference NO6844. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Cliffs in Carlingheugh Bay

The cleft in the cliff is a fault which has been exploited by the sea to form the Dark Cave, one of two caves that extend right through the headland to the next bay. The other one, the Light Cave, is further to the right. When you enter the Light cave, you can see the light at the other end, but the Dark Cave is, as its name suggests, completely dark. Bring a torch if you're going to explore it, and mind your head inside. The slightly wavy almost vertical feature next to the cave entrance is a vein of baryte (Barium sulphate, BaSO4, also known as barite and barytes). This has leached out of the sandstone and there are several such veins in the vicinity. Baryte is very dense (about 4½ tonnes per cubic metre, compared with sandstone which has a density of about 2¼ tonnes per cubic metre) and is used to make drilling mud to seal oil wells, and it is the most important ore of barium, which has many uses in medicine, engineering and other fields. See Link

Anne Burgess

Barite Crystals

The white dendritic shapes are crystals of Barium sulphate, BaSO4, also known as barite and baryte, which have leached out from igneous fluids permeating the sandstone. Baryte is very dense (about 4½ tonnes per cubic metre, compared with sandstone which has a density of about 2¼ tonnes per cubic metre) and is used to make drilling mud to seal oil wells, and it is the most important ore of barium, which has many uses in medicine, engineering and other fields. See Link

Anne Burgess

But n Ben restaurant, Auchmithie

Restaurant in a traditional cottage style building at the start of the old part of the clifftop village.

Gordon Hatton

St Peter's Church, Auchmithie

Scottish Episcopal Church situated at the western end of the village.

Gordon Hatton

Across Castlesea Bay

Looking south across the bay to the promontory of Lud Castle, which is an iron age fort.

Gordon Hatton

Harvested field south of Auchmithie

A view from the coast path looking inland across a recently cropped field towards Auchmithie church.

Gordon Hatton

Walking the coast path towards Carlingheugh Bay

Not sure if this is one bay or two as the small rocky promontory centre left appears to form a sort of break.

Gordon Hatton

Devonian sandstone meets the North Sea

The red cliffs of Angus are made from Devonian period sandstone - a sedimentary rock.

Gordon Hatton

Beach at the northern end of Carlingheugh Bay

An ideal lunch spot on a walk from Auchmithie to Arbroath. Sand gives way to pebbles and then a wave cut platform festooned with seaweed. The Dark Cave is prominent in the centre of the picture, formed on a minor fault line.

Gordon Hatton

Lobster fishing off Carlingheugh Bay

Small fishing boat close to shore checking out lobster pots.

Gordon Hatton

Narrow-leaved Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus sylvestris)

There's quite a lot of this in the East Den, though overall it is not common in northern Scotland.

Anne Burgess

Narrow-leaved Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus sylvestris)

These are the seed pods of NO6945 : Narrow-leaved Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus sylvestris).

Anne Burgess

Beach north of Rumness

Rumness itself is more or less hidden behind the headland, but according to the old Ordnance Survey maps none of the other rock features here has a name.

Anne Burgess

Old Red Sandstone

The rocks in the foreground are sandstones of Devonian age, laid down in arid conditions some 420 million years ago when what is now Scotland was at the latitude of the present-day Sahara Desert.

Anne Burgess