A weekend of caving exploits by the sea in the unique caving region of the Isle of Portland in Dorset, where the unusual geology and location provides a caving experience like no other. Three through-trips were undertaken, incorporating five different entrances with some accessed via abseils down the cliffs.
Saturday’s adventure was an exchange trip between Ariel Cave and Sandy Hole/Sharbutt’s Rift. Those entering Ariel Cave started their journey with an atmospheric abseil from the cliff top, swinging into the entrance window in the cliff face 10m below, while the second team continued further along the cliffs to enter the opposite end of the cave system via the 20m descent of Sharbutt’s Rift. The cave system between the two entrances is a veritable assault course of rifts, climbs, crawls and traverses providing a real physical workout for travellers in both directions. Diversions were made to see various decorated sections featuring yellow and orange formations, and interesting fossils were spotted along the way. Both parties met up for a rendezvous in Brownsea Island chamber at lunchtime, before continuing on to their respective exits, with those entering Ariel emerging from the cliffs via Sandy Hole. The Sharbutt’s to Ariel team, not wanting to miss out on an abseil down the cliffs, re-rigged the rope for a pull-through down to the undercliff path 20m below.
Sunday saw a return to the same cave system for another through-trip, this time from Steve’s Endeavour to Persil Rift. Though passing through some of the same areas, this trip totally avoided any repetition of the journey made the day before, and was very different in character. There was very little crawling and traversing, but this was made up for by the large amount of climbing, both up and down, starting with a rope climb to the entrance. Like the previous trip this also had some nice areas of formations and lots of interesting features along the way, making for yet another excursion underground different to the norm.
For information on all aspects of Portland caving see Tim Rose’s excellent website https://sites.google.com/view/the-caves-of-portland/home.
