Carlingheugh Bay

Bay in Angus

Scotland

Carlingheugh Bay

The Blowhole One of several holes where sea spray is deflected up through a hole in stormy weather. — The Blowhole Credit: Anne Burgess

Carlingheugh Bay is a picturesque coastal area located in Angus, Scotland. Situated on the eastern coast, this bay offers a stunning natural landscape and a tranquil atmosphere for visitors to enjoy. The bay is nestled between two rocky headlands, providing a sheltered and secluded feel.

The beach at Carlingheugh Bay is a mixture of sand and pebbles, offering a unique texture underfoot. The sand stretches along the shoreline, providing ample space for sunbathing, picnics, and beach games. The bay is also known for its clear blue waters, making it a popular spot for swimming and snorkeling during the warmer months.

Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the diverse flora and fauna found in and around Carlingheugh Bay. The surrounding cliffs and grassy slopes are home to a variety of seabirds, including guillemots, puffins, and kittiwakes. Visitors may also spot seals and dolphins swimming in the bay, adding to the area's natural beauty.

Carlingheugh Bay is a hidden gem for those seeking peace and tranquility. It offers a peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle of city life, allowing visitors to relax and unwind in a serene environment. Whether it's exploring the beach, admiring the stunning views, or simply enjoying a leisurely stroll along the shore, Carlingheugh Bay is a must-visit destination for nature lovers and beach enthusiasts alike.

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Carlingheugh Bay Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.574275/-2.5321292 or Grid Reference NO6742. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

The Blowhole

One of several holes where sea spray is deflected up through a hole in stormy weather.

Anne Burgess

Dickmont's Den

This is the largest of the inlets created by collapsed sea caves along this stretch of cliffs.

Anne Burgess

The De'il's Heid

The isolated sea stack is thought to resemble the Devil's head.

Anne Burgess

Three Sisters

Also known as the Camel's Humps, and the one on the left as the Sphinx, this rib of Old Red Sandstone is at the south end of Carlingheugh Bay.

Anne Burgess

Musical Railings

A much more imaginative way of fencing off a cliff edge than just an ordinary set of railings. Well done to someone for this. See also NO6642 : The Music Notes on the Arbroath Cliff Trail near Castle Gate.

Anne Burgess

Castle Gate

This is the view to seaward after passing through the natural archat Castle Gate. It's another of the collapsed caves that are common along this stretch of cliffs.

Anne Burgess

Castle Gate

This is one of many natural arches in the cliffs between Arbroath and Lunan Bay. The rock is Old Red Sandstone, laid down by rivers in a desert environment in the Devonian, about 400 million years ago. The coarser layers containing pebbles were deposited when there was a more vigorous flow of water, perhaps flash floods following occasional heavy rain, and the finer beds were laid down in times of slack water. See also NO6742 : A geological story revealed by the Three Sisters, Arbroath.

Anne Burgess

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

Agrincultural Waste

These heaps of mixed vegetable and plastic waste are the remains of strawberry beds from the polytunnels nearby. Strawberry plants have to be replaced every few years, and the old beds are dug up and dumped to make way for the new. I am told that the plastic is biodegradable, so in time all this will decompose into potentially useful compost.

Anne Burgess

Elephant Hawk-moth Caterpillar

This was a large and conspicuous caterpillar, easily seen on the path. Pound coin for scale.

Anne Burgess

Cove Haven

Cove Haven is separated by the Three Sisters from Carlingheugh Bay.

Anne Burgess

Blowhole

One of several holes where sea spray is deflected up through a hole in stormy weather.

Anne Burgess

The Needle's E'e

Looking through the Eye of the Needle. This arch is unusual in being parallel to the shore.

Anne Burgess

Through cave to Mermaid's Kirk

This is how the sea gets into Mermaid's Kirk. At this low tide level - 1.2 m - most of this is wadeable.

Nigel Feilden

Cliffs north of Deil's Heid

The stack now known as Deil's Heid, but formerly The Pint Stoup (=tankard), is on the left. There is an entrance to a cave fractionally right of centre. A narrower one is the entrance to a geo (narrow inlet) leading to Seal Cave. This is not the same as Seal's Cave which is a bit further north.

Nigel Feilden

The Crusie from below

Nigel Feilden

The Crusie and Crusie West Cave

The Crusie blowhole/arch is on the right and Crusie W cave on the left. Taken very near a 0.7 m fairly low low tide. This is why kelp is partly above water on the left.

Nigel Feilden

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Carlingheugh Bay is located at Grid Ref: NO6742 (Lat: 56.574275, Lng: -2.5321292)

Unitary Authority: Angus

Police Authority: Tayside