Southwell, Portland, Dorset

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A small section of precipitous cliff is all that exists in this small slice of Portland.

Somewhere in the area is an extensive cave system called Windy Dig.

In the late 1980s I was taken by qualified cavers into these tunnels - my only excursion underground on Portland. It was an unforgettable experience. I was taken through 'squeezes' which were so narrow that I had to detach the lamp battery from my belt and push it ahead of me. I slid head first down steep muddy slopes and climbed wire ladders left by previous explorers.

The worst part was getting out - I seemed to have put on several inches around my waist whilst underground and it took a great deal of pushing by several cavers backed up behind me to get me through the exit hole!

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The cliffs around here seem stable but, if a difficult and dangerous climb is made, we find places where huge lumps of stone have detached and slid away from the cliffs.

Although Portland appears eternal the huge mass of limestone lies on a bed of soft Kimmeridge Clay. A geologist once explained to me that if Portland were given a strong enough push, it would slide sideways into the sea!

Another view from the safety of the cliff tops.

Southwell Business Park dominates the skyline.

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