filmknight
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After reading an older report from 'Cloisters' about the Smuglers cave I was motivated to get on down there and see it for myself. I started off in Lulworth Cove, took the path up the cliff, took a small detour to see the Fossil Forest and then headed to Mupe Bay where the cave is. Mupe Bay is a fantastic location for a peaceful day by the sea. Lulworth Cove is only about 1.5 miles away via a clifftop walk and was packed with tourists. The carpark must have had 300+ cars in it yet only an hour, tops, walk away you have a beautiful unspoilt bay with hardly anyone about. I spent around 2 hours in Mupe Bay and only saw about 5-6 people. Lovely!
Lulworth Cove
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Near the end of the Jurassic period ( around 145 million years ago) the sea levels dropped and a number of islands emerged in the Purbeck area, surrounded by saline lagoons and channels. For a short period, soil formed and a tropical forest grew up.
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But soon the sea soon rose again and covered the forest. Algae then grew across the floor of the saltwater lagoon that had engulfed the trees. Mud stuck to the algae, accumulated into many layers, hardened into a thin limestone ring with doughnut shaped structures known as burrs where the trees once stood. This is the fossil forest that we can see today.
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The remains are now preserved as the Fossil Forest. This provides the most complete fossilised record of a Jurassic forest in the world.
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Trees stood here in the hollows of the doughnut shaped fossils around 145 million years ago.
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Mupe Bay
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First glimpse of the Smugglers Cave in the far distance.
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A wall made from the surrounding rock fall debris was erected at the far end of the cave to provide an area of protection from the elements.
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Smugglers would store their contraband here ( Usually kegs of wine, brandy and oilskins of tea leaves! ) and then distribute it to the local villages and towns around Dorset.
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There was no contraband hidden in the cave unfortunately just lots of plastic bottles that have washed up in the tide.
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Some previous visitors scribblings
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You can see the dates more clearly in this shot
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Looking out from the cave towards Mupe Bay
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The outcrop of rock is called Arish rock and gives great views if you scramble up to the top.
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Lulworth Cove
image host
Near the end of the Jurassic period ( around 145 million years ago) the sea levels dropped and a number of islands emerged in the Purbeck area, surrounded by saline lagoons and channels. For a short period, soil formed and a tropical forest grew up.
wordpress image upload
But soon the sea soon rose again and covered the forest. Algae then grew across the floor of the saltwater lagoon that had engulfed the trees. Mud stuck to the algae, accumulated into many layers, hardened into a thin limestone ring with doughnut shaped structures known as burrs where the trees once stood. This is the fossil forest that we can see today.
hosting images
The remains are now preserved as the Fossil Forest. This provides the most complete fossilised record of a Jurassic forest in the world.
image hosting
Trees stood here in the hollows of the doughnut shaped fossils around 145 million years ago.
post image wordpress
free image hosting
Mupe Bay
image uploading
First glimpse of the Smugglers Cave in the far distance.
image hosting service
wordpress image upload
hosting images
A wall made from the surrounding rock fall debris was erected at the far end of the cave to provide an area of protection from the elements.
image upload
Smugglers would store their contraband here ( Usually kegs of wine, brandy and oilskins of tea leaves! ) and then distribute it to the local villages and towns around Dorset.
hosting images
post image wordpress
There was no contraband hidden in the cave unfortunately just lots of plastic bottles that have washed up in the tide.
hosting images
Some previous visitors scribblings
image uploading
You can see the dates more clearly in this shot
image hosting
Looking out from the cave towards Mupe Bay
adult image hosting
The outcrop of rock is called Arish rock and gives great views if you scramble up to the top.
wordpress image upload
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