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United Kingdom

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South West England

Dorset

Weymouth And Portland

Portland

Cave Hole

Discover

Places to see

United Kingdom

England

South West England

Dorset

Weymouth And Portland

Portland

Cave Hole

Recommended by 36 hikers out of 39

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Location: Portland, Weymouth And Portland, Dorset, South West England, England, United Kingdom

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Best Hikes to Cave Hole

4.7

(97)

640

hikers

1. West Cliff, Jurassic Coast – Church Ope Cove loop from Southwell

15.4km

04:16

280m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.8

(11)

hikers

2. Portland Bill Lighthouse – Portland Bill Lighthouse loop from Southwell

6.33km

01:42

80m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

5.0

(2)

hikers

3. Portland Bill Lighthouse – Old Higher Lighthouse loop from Southwell

5.26km

01:25

70m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

Mike Cree

June 7, 2024

Cave Hole is a large cave on the south east side of the Isle of Portland, a large peninsular in Dorset, England. It has a blowhole and a wooden crane, known as Broad Ope Crane on the cliff top. It is 1⁄2 mile (800 m) north-east of Portland Bill, has an interior measuring 50 feet (15 m) square and 21 feet (6.4 m) high.[1]

The Blow Hole of Cave Hole.

Cave Hole was earlier known as Keeve's Hole and regularly featured in recorded history and wider lore of smuggling. It is made up of a series of caves with steep roof sections, tunnels and ledges, and represents the first stage in cave collapse. The cave and its surrounding area is frequently used for deep-water soloing. The cave's blowhole, which stretches far into the solid rock, was formed when the roof of the cave was broken through to the surface. For the protection of people looking down into the cave, an iron grill has been installed across it. Whenever a powerful easterly gale occurs, the sea shoots up through the fissures.

Various small craft have been driven into the cave by east and south easterly gales, the largest of which was a 40-ton vessel from Cowes in 1780. Frank and Ann Davison were shipwrecked at the cave in 1949. The pair had set sail for the West Indies. Frank drowned but Ann managed to scramble ashore. A local tale has long reputed that the cave is home to Roy Dog - a black dog, "as high as man, with large fiery eyes, one green, one red". It is said that the creature emerges from the watery depths to seize any traveler passing by Cave Hole and drags them down into his dark watery domain.

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See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Portland, Weymouth And Portland, Dorset, South West England, England, United Kingdom

Cave Hole

1. West Cliff, Jurassic Coast – Church Ope Cove loop from Southwell

2. Portland Bill Lighthouse – Portland Bill Lighthouse loop from Southwell

3. Portland Bill Lighthouse – Old Higher Lighthouse loop from Southwell

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