Fossil Cave (AKA Rubbish Dump)

tim.rose2

Active member
Rose and Saunders gardening services have been at it again today and rescued another of Portland's caves...

We've cleared a route through the brambles and fly tipping to the quarry edge directly above the entrance to Fossil Cave (Locally known as Rubbish Dump Cave).  After a bit of vertical gardening and bolting, access to this formally popular cave is once again possible.  The route across the detritus in the quarry which had been maintained by local outdoor education centres was lost some years ago and would now be a very dangerous option.  Access is now possible from the footpath by dropping down the slope under a sycamore tree above the entrance and following the newly crafted path to the quarry edge.  Just before the quarry edge you will find a small tree on your right and a bolt on the left hand side of the last slab before dropping over the edge.  These can be used to protect a 2m climb down onto a sloping ledge.  Two further bolts can be found on the rock face on the left hand side and used to rig a ladder & line to descend to a small landing area directly outside the entrance.  The pitch is approx. 7m.

If you visit, please observe the following:
1.  Do not improve the bit beneath the sycamore tree connecting the footpath to our cleared area - an obvious route down to the newly cleared patch / quarry edge will almost certainly encourage it's use for further fly tipping.
2.  Having not been used for many years the cave is restoring itself and once again contains some nice formations.  Please respect these and do you upmost not to damage them.

Today's photo's:
The path to the edge of the quarry showing the belay tree
30451161867_a3008d04c1.jpg


Richard starting work on clearing the ledge
43574273490_8e3e3e1338.jpg


The ledge cleared - Richard about to start the vertical gardening.  The bolts for the pitch have been placed above the spade in this photo
45340380702_71aa00ab4f.jpg


Richard dropping down the ladder to the entrance
31515971208_54a6c6dfff.jpg


Some from within the cave
45391031411_e80d7494ff.jpg


31515964928_92c6c29c50.jpg


31515957788_3922631999.jpg


45391025891_55e040e898.jpg


30451161547_b22bd82d20.jpg


31515957498_b57a640859.jpg


31515960258_6d94fb40f0.jpg


30451161447_4516d26cd9.jpg

 

tim.rose2

Active member
I'm full of thorns too.  I've still got at least one more gardening project up my sleeve - bet you can't wait.
 

tim.rose2

Active member
A few more photo's...

This was back in May when I called by the quarry to consider possibilities and was taken from the same location I snapped Richard hanging onto the ladder.
44690091494_c123806fa6.jpg


Another of Richard in the main tunnel.
30474572197_eea33cff70.jpg


One of the tighter bits.  This would have been regularly passed by hundreds of kids in the 90's (myself included).
45415005111_45883f29f3.jpg


This was a muddy mess 15 years ago being crawled over daily but with some rest the cave has been restoring itself
30474580177_f5e06cef44.jpg
 

mikem

Well-known member
It's amazing how much the climbs at Avon Gorge main area recovered when it was closed for 3 years due to work being done underneath the cliff - all polished to buggery again now though...

Mike
 
Top