Cave Hole

Cave Hole is a large sea cave on the south-eastern side of the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England, on the Jurassic Coast. A gap in the cliff-top rock lets you peer down into a chamber where the sea surges in with a boom.

What is Cave Hole?

It is a single-chamber limestone cave about 15 m across, with a roof some 6.4 m high. Steep-roofed sections, tunnels and ledges make up the interior, which geologists treat as an early stage of cave collapse. The top entrance sits at the cliff edge and is closed with a grille. Older records call the place Keeve's Hole.

What will you see?

The star feature is the blowhole. When the sea is rough, air and water are forced through the opening, producing a thump and a burst of spray. You can look down from large stone blocks next to iron railings. A crane known as Broad Ope Crane stands on the cliff top, a reminder of Portland's quarrying and stone-shipping past. Local lore ties the cave to smuggling, a ship named the Reliance ran aground inside it in 1949, and a legend tells of Roy Dog, a huge black hound with one green and one red eye.

How do you get to Cave Hole?

The cave lies roughly 800 m north-east of Portland Bill, the island's southern tip. The simplest approach is an easy coastal walk of about 3.5 miles (around 1.5 hours) starting in the village of Southwell; Cave Hole appears soon after you leave the houses behind. Park on the roadside in central Southwell near the Eight Kings pub. The only toilets on the route are at the Portland Bill car park.

Is it safe?

Cliff tops are unfenced in places, so stay on the path and keep children and dogs close. In strong winds and heavy swell, standing near the opening can be dangerous. The surrounding rock is also used by experienced climbers for deep-water soloing, which is not for casual visitors.

What else is nearby?

This stretch of coast has more sea caves, including Sand Hole, Limekiln Cave and Waterfall Cave, plus old quarries and the lighthouse at Portland Bill.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Cave Hole? No. The top entrance is gated, so you view the cave from the railings above.

When is the best time to visit? Windy days with a big swell give the most dramatic blowhole. In calm weather you mainly see the cave itself.

How long does a visit take? Looking at the cave takes ten to fifteen minutes. The full walk from Southwell to Portland Bill and back takes about an hour and a half.

Is there an entrance fee? No ticket is needed for the coastal path. Any charge relates to parking at Portland Bill.