Access

To date the only natural caves known in this large limestone area are the numerous sea caves west of Swanage. This is an important climbing area and is subject to seasonal access restrictions. You should refer to the Climbers? guidebooks and "High" magazine. Prospecting for caves is underway but the chances of significant finds seem very slight.

Purbeck has old stone mines, the best known being Tilly Whim Caves at Durlston, once a show mine but now closed due to instability. Some mines are gated bat roosts with access only to research zoologists. Others have been recently fenced off for safety as they are extremely unstable.

Geology texts refer to oil shale adits near Kimmeridge. If they still exist, doubtless they will be dangerously loose.

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Last modified 27th Dec 2010.
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