The Cave Of Carving's. Isle of Wight. 11 Feb 2017.

[@johnnash7769]

This is easily the best video of the Cave on YT and done with great sensitivity. Regarding the history of the cave, there is no doubt in my mind that it was used as a storage area by the small fishing community which used to occupy the lower bench of the cliffs here. One edition of the early large-scale OS map shows detail of the settlement, including the path climbing up to the Cave. The community had to move out when the main cliff behind it became unstable.

[@JimHolden]

I did the coastal path the year before and looked for it then but was looking in the wrong area and didn't have the time to explore so this trip was just to find it. So impressive but i was disappointed to see that rough sleepers had left there old tents and bedding all over the area, quite a mess. The erosion round there is scary i had a problem getting back up, i did plan to walk round the coast but the tide came in so had to scramble back the way i came. Thanks for watching and info really appreciate it. Cheers John. ATB. Jim.

[@thebuspasscamper3999]

Jim credit to ya mate very interesting and atmospheric excellent editing, what a gem of a place the Isle of White is I`ve never been. very enjoyable, ATB, George.

[@JimHolden]

It's a wonderful island George just over the solent from me, some of the coastal area's are very remote and some are cut off by big old mud slide's that's why the cave is unknown as you cant get to it without taking a few risk's and i'm allway's up for that. Thank's for watching mate. ATB, Jim.

[@helendanby7813]

Apostrophes Jim! Sorry!

[@stevo728822]

Wouldn't surprise me if those caves were used for storing contraband during the Georgian era of smuggling. The Revenue cutters couldn't approach the south of the island because of the rocks. As for their origins, probably natural crevices and then later enlarged by man. I've been exploring the area along the St Lawrence road from Niton which is now cut off due to lanslip.

[@lethalmizzle]

I like the fact that someone enters such an artistic place and thinks 'I know what I can add to make this even better - "Dave woz ere". Great video Jim. All the best.

[@JimHolden]

Thank's Ted, yes make's you laugh, i tried to avoid some of the pea brained marking's, but what a cave...loved it. Cheer's mate and ATB. Jim.

[@NymeriaMeliae]

well it is no different to the muppet that wrote 1865 EP on top of an ancient burial chamber near Simonside or all the other 19th century and 18th century vandalism carved into the rocks alongside bronze age cup and ring marks. Just we seem to accept some vandalism because it is old. Wouldn't surprise me one bit if you could travel back in time to find that it was rebellious neolithic teenage vandals that painted the outlines of their hands on cave walls much to their parent's annoyance.

[@JimHolden]

I Know what your saying and yes there seem's to be an acceptance of older stuff Kinda adding it all to the mystery but some modern stuff is done so badly and half hearted. Some stuff in this cave was so crude that i didn't film it.

[@AurmazlZudeh]

@@JimHolden im sure i saw a vagina but it did look ancient.

[@MarkTayloroutdoors]

Great video my friend, really well shot. That cave is amazing with some awesome carvings. The music went really well with it too mate, some great choices 👍🏻 the walk looked really good too with some great points of interest 😀 TFS ATB Mark

[@wayneofox1081]

cool! well worth a second trip jim thanks for sharing.

[@JimHolden]

I was determined to find it Wayne, such a fantastic cave in a really remote part of the island. Thank's for watching mate. ATB. Jim.

[@wasdalemanexploringoutdoor5137]

That was really interesting Jim. I can understand why you wanted to find that place, It's like a pictorial time machine. I sometimes wonder what people will think of modern day graffiti in 200 years time, it doesn't seem to have elegance of the old stuff. Thanks for sharing Regards James

[@JimHolden]

very true James, some modern stuff is just crude. Back in the day it was done with artistic intent. Brilliant part of the IOW this, very remote. Thank's for watching mate and ATB. Jim.

[@AurmazlZudeh]

Or last as long!

[@mainlandtoisland7260]

I know you can't tell me exactly where this is but what coastal path passes over it

[@mancamper6632]

Nice one Jim . Sorry to tell you but I have nominated you in the First Aid challenge. Check out my video for more details .ATB Paul

[@JimHolden]

Thank's Paul, the first aid challenge...iv'e seen a couple of vid's out there so ill pop over and see your challenge. Cheer's mate appreciate you nominating me, hope i do it justice.

[@VulpeOutdoorNormandie]

Great video ! Very interesting 👍👍👍 Greets from France ;)

[@JimHolden]

Thank you, appreciate you watching and comment. ATB. Jim.

[@RandomButtonPusher]

Very nicely put together video with a very effective soundtrack. Thanks for showing us this unique spot, and doing it with such artfulness.

[@JimHolden]

Thank you, i really wanted to get this cave filmed as the old carving's are getting slowly destroyed by people wanting to leave there mark. Thank's again for watching.

[@JPSRose]

Would you ever consider sleeping in it? I'd consider it in the summer, not sure I'd end up staying the whole night though, I think fear might get the better of me, lol.

[@JimHolden]

Sleeping in the cave wouldn't bother me as such, i even thought about it being a perfect spot for a bivy camp later in the year, it's facing east so i recon you would get a good sunrise from there. The problem for me would be the rough sleeper's, the IOW has a big problem and what i didn't show on the vid was all the old tent's and bedding all over the wood's near by. It's so isolated down there i suppose they get left alone but it did put me off a bit.

[@JPSRose]

Reminds me of when I did a walk from Salisbury to Swindon via the henges, lol. Got to Salisbury on the train about 10pm and walked to Sarum castle with the intention of sleeping in a bivvy bag. Saw this perfect spot with some large sycamore trees providing decent cover and as I stooped to get my gear down this face appeared at the exact spot I was about to sleep in, scared the shit out of both of us, haha.

[@royphilps2411]

Didn't know this cave was there great video.

[@JimHolden]

I knew it was there Roy just didn't know were about's until a couple of week's ago, lovely isolated part of the island. Thank's for watching. Cheer's and ATB. Jim.

[@AndrewBeavers]

Proper little hidden jem there jim tfs with us...love all that type of stuff with the saxon burial sites & wotnot i bet theres some right old ghost stories round there.Nicely shot scenes as always & especially how you caught the bird of prey in flight & the music fitted perfect..nice one jim tfs..ATB Andy.

[@JimHolden]

Cheer's Andy, i didn't do much filming until i found the cave as iv'e failed before, such an isolated part of the island and with all the land slip's a dangerous area as well. That feeling when it's there in front of you and you know you got it...brilliant. Yes a real gem, probably used by smuggler's back in the day but some of the carving's look much older. Thank's for watching mate and ATB. Jim.

[@AurmazlZudeh]

Did you ever find the other caves?

[@rialobran]

Man you get about! I've never heard of that cave so thanks for showing it. I've sailed around the island a few times but never landed, may have to put that right someday...last Saxon kingdom to be christianised, that cave makes me wonder if it still is christian. :)

[@JimHolden]

I only live over the Solent so you could call this local to me. Iv'e known of this cave for a while now, i think i found out about it when i researched the island before doing the coastal path, i didn't know exactly were it was back then but found out for sure last week. Some carving's look very old, some are clearly modern and other's i recon were done in the 60s but such a great cave. Interesting about the Saxon Kingdom thank's for that and thank's for watching. ATB. Jim.

[@rialobran]

I see........the Pompey accent is different to what I remember ;)

[@JimHolden]

Now i didn't say i was from Pompey just that this is were i live. No my mum is from here and i moved down from Lancashire many year's ago. Been workin on the accent... just can't seem to get it right.

[@rialobran]

I'm only teasing, I like the fact in this day and age some of us still have regional accents and dialects, they are dying out :)

[@JimHolden]

Yes i know...my sister live's on Bodmin moor, has done since the mid 80s and she's still right northern.

[@boydray1816]

Loved the video. You really took your time filming this, great. Love the music. Awesome.

[@JimHolden]

I appreciate creative criticism it make's you stop and look at thing's from another angle. When you asked me not to pan so fast in my last vid, you were so right, thank's for that Boyd, and yes i took my time over this. It's all a learning curve. The cave is a fantastic find really wanted to do it justice. Cheer's mate and ATB. Jim.

[@Nerding4Nature]

I was just thinking how that cave would have been vandalized if it was in North America when you mentioned the carvings within the last year. Darn it. Really cool spot though.

[@JimHolden]

I think the thing that has saved this cave from more vandalism is it's location, so isolated and quite a dangerous scramble down land slip's to get to it. There is of course the beach but with steep cliff's to walk round there is the danger of being cut off by the tide. I have tried and failed to find it more that once but determined this time, such a gem. Thank's for watching and comment really appreciate it. ATB. Jim.

[@jasonbroome618]

Loved this video and superb editing. Music also was as beautiful as the island. Been travelling to Isle of Wight for 35 years, this will be our next adventure,also inspired by you, take care

[@edcatt6003]

Fantastic stuff! I loved the Cave of Carvings but the Longstone was well worth a look too. An amazing tree along the way. Great choice of haunting music.

[@JimHolden]

I walked the coast path the year before and this cave was all i could think about, really wanted to find it but lost a bit of time so ended up moving on disappointed. It turns out i was looking in the wrong place so this was my return and i was buzzing when i first walked in. The Long Stone was inland so again wanted to see it but missed it when doing the path. Lovely area the IOW. Cheers mate.

[@Johnyswildcampsandhiking]

great vid as usual jim,the cave was interesting with some nice carvings and a lot of history,thanks for sharing and the music was spot on too,cheers.......johny

[@JimHolden]

Thank's Johny, i love it over there, got load's of history. Thank's for watching mate. ATB. Jim.

[@ColinTonkasdad]

another gem.... nice to see the carvings, as you say it pays to keep quiet about the area. great bit of music as well .. cheers

[@JimHolden]

Thank's Colin, iv'e known about this cave for year's but no idea were it was until last week. It's in probably the most inaccessible part of the island due to land slip's so hopefully it stay's safe from vandal's. Cheer's mate.

[@WyeExplorer]

An interesting or should I say evocative entrance to what was a fascinating space Jim. I can see them carving in the small hours leaving yet another thought to inspire debate. Good on you for keeping it secret. I must say it looks like they carve everything around there the small boulders included. A reasonable fetish to have. End to end a very good bimble considering you got in some sites missed on the trail Jim. Have a great week. Mark

[@JimHolden]

Thank you Mark, certainly get's the imagination going. Totally undocumented this cave apart from a few vid's like mine, the local's were quite guarded when i stopped and spoke to a few, but the area south of the island is steeped in smuggling history and iv'e no doubt the cave was part of that. Cheer's Mark and you have a good week as well. Jim.

[@WyeExplorer]

Pleasure as always Jim. Good that in this another documentary has been made. Mind you the guarded nature of the locals possibly extends to videos. You got give a reprieve it looks on account of its quality. Peace!

[@ataneRxR]

Hi Jim I hope you're well 😀 I'm going to do IOW path inspired by you Plan is to visit the cave but have no idea how to access it Did little research and it looks like im having 2 optional access points One is from the beach or walking down closed path Dont want to disclose in public any more " top secred" location points- could you just say did you went from the top or bottom of the cliff? I love the cave and I really want to be there can you give me a little clue where to start? 😉

[@ataneRxR]

My email address is [e-mail] so we can still keep location as top secret 😉 please help 😊

[@RM-io7qo]

What a fabulous and exciting video, one of your best, Jim. The scenes were those of mystery and imagination, the cave was surely very old along with many of its well worn carvings. There is a classic style that indicates work going back to the early 18th century at the very least, but this is just my opinion. Some of the fairly well-worn carvings are of course much, much older. There is an eerie quality about these carvings that I cannot put my finger on, but it is all truly fascinating to say the least. The standing stone is a giant among stones of its kind and no doubt it is steeped in ancient history, a thing of beauty. Thank you very much for sharing this mini adventure, I appreciate this very much. Take care...

[@JimHolden]

I shared this on other sites John to see if anyone had some answers and a lot of experts said the 18th century as well. The cave itself is in a remote part of the island so no doubt used by smugglers to stash contraband. Certainly gets the imagination going. The Long Stone is the only Megalith on the IOW with lots of Bronze age burial mounds.

[@WanderingSoleTV]

Such a fascinating place! Some of those new additions are a shame.

[@JimHolden]

A place of mystery that has bugged me for year's, kept secret by the local's, cut off by the tide and land slip's it was safe for so long, but more recently it's were about's has been put on the net and is slowly being destroyed, the main reason i wanted to find it to film before it's ruined. Thank you for watching and comment.

[@billygoatfilms7531]

WOW! Some of those carvings were truly amazing, I'm surprised the NT or some other organisation hasn't taken it over and turned it into a money making tourist spot. ⛺️

[@JimHolden]

Apparently there's another two on the island somewhere Mike, but i wanted to find this one for years sadly it's secret was put on FB earlier this year so got it filmed before ever Tom Dick and who knows who adds there bit of tat. Some of the carvings go back to the 18c and some are much older. Fascinating place. It's location though makes it hard for the money men to get involved, which is great news. Cheers Mike.

[@AurmazlZudeh]

@@JimHolden how did you find out some of the carvings date back to the 18c? Id love to read more on the history of this cave.

[@AnimalMagicTrainingUK]

Loved this video! Not just the amazing cave art, but also the gnarly trees and the rock with a face ❤. The music was most enjoyable too!

[@JimHolden]

Had to pop back to find this cave. I looked while doing the coast path but couldn't find it, same with the Longstone.

[@johniow1009]

Great footage Jim.I was born on the Island and knew of the caves here.I went and found the cave for myself on Sunday 6th ,17 .The tide was just falling and i made it round o.k.Luckily i found the correct route.I,m deffinately going back there also to find another 2 caves,i'm sure i know where they could be ! A well put together story on your part.Cheers!

[@JimHolden]

Thank you John, it was kept secret for so long but some people have revealed its whereabouts recently and to be honest that's how i found it but when i went back in Feb there was evidence of rough sleepers and all the rubbish that comes with that, i suppose because its so isolated there they feel safe. Good luck with the other caves John. Cheers.

[@johniow1009]

It has been put out on a local Facebook Page here,so now even more people will try and find it ! Still a little difficult to get to luckily unless you are determined of course.Cheers.

[@NymeriaMeliae]

What an interesting place... a picture postcard little thatched village and a mysterious cave.

[@JimHolden]

A beautiful part of the island full of mystery. Being on the southern side it was known for smuggling and iv'e no doubt the cave was at the centre of that. Some carving's look really old some quite modern. Thank's for watching and ATB. Jim.

[@jamessd7677]

I go over to the island for the odd weekend trip here and there JIm and I've never heard of either the cave or Luccombe, ( its the southern side of the island and I don't go thre much ),will have to check em both out now next time I'm over, worth a look, hopefully I'll find the cave, thanks mate.

[@JimHolden]

The southern part for me is the best James as it's quite remote and some of the area's are now cut off due to mud slides, it's eroding fast, every time i go i notice the rate, bit of a worry. That's why i wanted to find the cave and film it because it's not going to be there for ever. Good luck next time your over James any problem's finding it just pm me and ill let you know where to look. Cheer's mate and ATB. Jim.

[@jamessd7677]

OK JIm thanks, from the landmarks you filmed there I've got a rough idea of where the cave is but if and when I do decide to visit I'll get in touch, thanks again.

[@trevpackerphotography]

That was a find, great stuff Jim. Thanks for sharing :)

[@JimHolden]

Hiya Trev, iv'e known of this cave for many year's but no idea were on the island it was. Found a blog last week that gave away a couple of clues so off i went. Thank's for watching mate and ATB. Jim.

[@trevpackerphotography]

Hey Jim, yeah that's a great thing about the Internet. Made me look for caves in Sussex. Plenty of them for sure. One that caught my eye was a beachy head. But unless you know rope skills it's a no go.

[@carlosalmeida1273]

Jim... More one great vid & very interesting. Tks for sharing

[@JimHolden]

Thank's Carlos, really appreciate it.

[@johniow1009]

Hi Jim,great video.I decided to go and find the cave on Sunday 6th Aug,17. The tide was just falling and managed to get there o.k..I was born on the Island and knew the caves were there.I only saw one of the caves from the old path down,that was when i was kid.Luckily it didn't take me long to find as i knew the rough whereabouts .I did notice one of the carvings had been damaged ! I,m deffinately going again to search for the other caves.Thanks again .