Climbs 70
Rocktype Limestone
Altitude 11m a.s.l
Faces SW
Disappearing ball of gas , White hole , Portland Dorset 17.45 hrs 24.03.11 © LaMentalist
White Hole is unique to the west coast of Portland, being an area of well-defined and deeply-incised zawns. The walls of the zawns are relatively short compared to the neighbouring Coastguard Cliffs, but have a set of good routes with an atmosphere that is out of all proportion to their size. The rock is solid, but also extremely rough and it can be a bit tough on finger skin. Many of the lines are climbed both as sport climbs and deep water solos.
Drive to Portland Bill and park by the lighthouse (fee). Walk westwards (right - looking out) next to a fence and above an old quarry for 200m. Turn right at the cliff top and follow the fence. The South Cliff is just below the top after 20m. Mirthmaid Zawn is the large square-cut prow further into the bay. It is reached by following the fence closely past a pipe, before dropping down onto a large rock platform. To reach Memories Zawn and the Faceache Area, continue from the large rock platform by scrambling up to the top of the Mirthmaid promontory. Move along a narrow cliff-top ledge that runs right (looking out) around a square-cut zawn to a narrow rift beneath the weird conglomerate rock bridge.
Make your way through the crowns of tourists and down below the MOD fence, you will find and peacful suntrap, though not a place to be in rough seas.
Edge along the cliff top over weird conglomerate bridges (these are geologically significant prehistoric raised beeches, so tread carefully) to absiel points to access the zawns. ( DO NOT attach to the MOD Fence at any point)
The tide can race around these buttresses and rocks are exposed at low tides, be cautious when Deep Water soloing.
A large rock fall ocoured in 2021 at the northen end only destorying one route, but affecting the nesting sites in the Senctuary zone. Other smaller rock falls have altered routes in resent years.
Dates: 1 March to 15 July
Reason: Nesting Birds
Due to the rockfall in 2021 the Ravorbill colony has move south and are now using the Memories Zawn area. No climbing on routes north of 'Until the End of Man' to avoid destrubing during nesting. You can be seen by the bird watches on the bill.
What's the deal with access here? I assumed since there is nothing stated in the guides that climbing is permitted here. However, MOD dude today was not happy about our presence. Apparently the MOD own all the land down to the sea, not just what is fenced in and don't allow climbing. dannyboy83 - 29/Sep/18 |
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The fence mentinoed in the description now includes a barrier preventing easy access to the routes on the promontary. Nowadays, one must scramble along ledges to the back of the zawn and make a scary pull across a narrow (but deep) gap. Steve Taylor - 30/Sep/03 |
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