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
Richard starting work on clearing the ledge
The ledge cleared - Richard about to start the vertical gardening. The bolts for the pitch have been placed above the spade in this photo
Richard dropping down the ladder to the entrance
Some from within the cave
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
Richard starting work on clearing the ledge
The ledge cleared - Richard about to start the vertical gardening. The bolts for the pitch have been placed above the spade in this photo
Richard dropping down the ladder to the entrance
Some from within the cave