Culver Hole (SS 5546 8460)

Sandwiched in a deep cleft in the difficult to access rocks between Port Eynon and Overton Mere lays one of the most mysterious caves in the U.K. Rumours abound as to the nature and origin of this converted cave. Some hold that it was a Roman staging post. Others assert that it was part of a castle that once stood proudly upon the cliff top overlooking the breadth of the mighty Bristol Channel . Legends that the place was connected to smuggling activities by the Lucas family, however, have now been thoroughly disproved.

From this tangle of sometimes fanciful historical conjecture, at least a few basic facts can be unravelled. Both the architecture and the name of the annexed cave give a very good clue as to the exact nature of the cave's use. 'Culfre' is an old English word meaning pigeon and anyone brave or athletic enough to climb into the cave today will find its interior filled with nesting holes.

Culver Hole Cave was obviously built upon to provide eggs for its owner. Unfortunately, who this owner was and why they built this construction in such an obscure and difficult to reach location has slipped into unrecorded history.

For those wishing to explore this enigmatic cave for themselves, it should be noted that Culver Hole is only accessible up to half tide and all approaches should be made with a wary eye so as not to be cut off by the incoming tide.