Sandy Hole

Overview

Despite being connected to Blacknor Hole (the best cave on the island), it's fair to describe Sandy as the worst.  The cave is usually damp and muddy, there are seldom locations to sit up, even fewer to stand and little to look at.  Furthermore the floor is littered with stones and chert providing a most uncomfortable experience.  For those crawl lovers, Ammonite passage provides perhaps the most severe crawl in the UK.  The current limit of exploration is approx. 1000m and requires a 7 hour trip there and back.  The entrance however does provide an amazing and somewhat exclusive view of the sun setting over the horizon even if this pleasure can only be enjoyed lying down.

Cave length: 1614 m

Entrance: SY 67990 71245 (50.54010, -2.45321)

Location

From the cliff top coast path a few metres north of the where the route from the Westcliff climbers car park joins, descend into Sharbutts quarry which is easily recognisable by the huge quarry block wall on the seaward side. Follow the inland quarry wall south and descend a steep gully (permanent cart rope & staples in place to make this easier).  From the bottom of the gully double back North and follow the climbers path.  After a short distance at a downward slope a full height crack in the main cliff becomes visible directly below the North West corner of Sharbutts quarry above.  A little further beyond this crack at another downwards slope in the path the elliptical entrance to Sandy Hole can be seen approx. 10 ft up the cliff.  The bolted climbing route 'Step Away from the Gingga' lies just to the right of the entrance.   

From directly below the entrance a short ladder (3 m is sufficient) can be hung from a sling over an obvious flake on the lower right hand side of the hole to aid the first person up - an appropriate stick 5 ft in length is required to achieve this.  Alternatively the first person can free climb but this is very tricky as it overhangs.  Once one person is up a more sensible arrangement can be made from bolts in the floor of the tunnel.  A fall whilst trying to enter the cave would likely hurt so some care is needed.

Description

Sandy Round Trip

Once in the entrance, start crawling.  After a little while you will pass an obvious breakthrough point to arrive in the Inkwell, an obvious junction with three ways on which forms a small chamber tall enough to sit comfortably in.  

Directly ahead is an arduous, flat out crawl (North Passage) which ends at a choke after 60 m.  Despite it's short length, visiting the end of North Passage will likely add 30 mins to your trip!  Please note that most cavers will fail to find anywhere to turn around and so will need to reverse large parts if not all.  

To the right is the return from the round trip and Ammonite Passage (enter at your peril).  Our way on is to the left into Gold and Silver Passage.  A squeeze is immediately passed with Sharbutts Rift opening up above and to the left (see Sharbutts Rift page for more details).  Continue along the phreatic tube mostly on your knees, passing a crawl on your right, Hardye's Hole (this connects to Argonaut passage used for the return).  Continue along Gold and Silver passage for 75 m passing a couple of tight oxbows to arrive at a low grovel to your left which opens out into a rift above (Northern Rift) and ultimately the connection to Ariel Cave.  Just before the grovel left, the turning to the right is the beginning of Argonaut Passage which heads back South and marks the start of the return leg of the round trip.   This passage is lower, requires more time on your belly than knees and will make you wish you were back in Gold and Silver Passage.  You'll eventually arrive back at the other side of Hardye's Hole; instead of turning right back into Gold and Silver passage head left into World's End, a small chamber which provides an opportunity to stand if you are short enough.  Both the Left and Right hand passages here are flat out crawls which both end after a short distance.  The way on is straight ahead in slightly more comfortable passage (Pauls Progress) to reach a junction.  Left is Ammonite passage (do not accidentally go down here as it continues for over 1 km) and right will bring you back to the inkwell after a few metres.  Finish by turning left at the Inkwell to head back to the entrance.

Trip time - 1 hour 30

A pleasant detour can be made by taking the grovel left at the most Northern point of the round trip and climbing up through shored boulders into a good (for Portland) sized rift chamber which provides an opportunity to sit / stand and stretch one's self.  Follow the rift (Northern Rift) straight ahead through a narrower boulder filled section to a tall rift which contains a good deal of flowstone high up.  A dug route down through boulders leads to a wide and very pleasant rift approx. 30 m long. At the end of this, a route wriggles upwards into a rift chamber containing the Candle Wax formation.  Straight ahead beneath the rift chamber the passage ends at an attractive pool and active dig.  Visiting the end of Northern rift will add 40 mins to your trip.

Back in the rift chamber found at the start of Northern Rift, a climb up through one of two holes to the left into a parallel rift (which also contains some good formations) and then dropping down a hole below the opposite wall, the very muddy, low bedding chamber, Vortex Passage, can be found.  This is the connection to Ariel Cave.  

Ammonite Passage

Crawl from the entrance to the inkwell and then simply turn right.  After a few metres the return of the round trip is passed on your left.  Beyond this there is simply nothing other than a never ending relentless world of sore knees.  Several obvious breakthrough points are passed before the passage splits.  The right hand branch ends at a blockage, whereas the left hand passage continues much further before terminating at an easily diggable constriction with a view to more passage beyond.  The end of the left hand branch of ammonite passage is approx. 1000m from the inkwell. Expect a trip to the furthest reaches of this passage to take 3 to 4 hours each way.   The entirety of Ammonite Passage varies in height from 18 to 36 inches however is typically 4 to 6 ft wide so plenty of opportunities to turn around but none in which to stand.  The floor is the best feature of all; a mixture of sharp stones and even sharper chert with some Portland goo for good measure.  There are a number of large ammonites to keep an eye open for as you proceed.  Along the route there are two places at which you can take turns to stand up by posting your head and shoulders up into a narrow cross rift.  Personally I've not been beyond the first of these which takes approx. 45mins to reach.   This passage is surely one of the most severe crawls in the UK.

Should anyone wish to better the current limit of exploration of this passage please bear in mind that the end has been proposed to be a tidal sump.  One where the tide may well come in quicker than you can crawl.

Kit

Knee pads (as many pairs as you can muster).

3m ladder & 10m rope for the entrance.