This paper presents a combined experimental/computational study of a surface cavity in a low Reynolds number Mach 9 flow. The geometry is based on a body of revolution, which produces highly two-dimensional time-averaged flow for all experimental test cases. A range of cavity length-to-depth ratios, up to a maximum of 8, is investigated. These correspond to ‘closed’ cavity flows, with the free shear layer bridging the entire cavity. For most cases the free shear layer is laminar. However, there is evidence of three-dimensional unsteadiness which is believed to be the consequence of Taylor–Görtler-type vortex formation. The effect of this is first detected on the cavity floor but progressively spreads as the cavity length is increased. For the longest cavities the flow is also influenced by the early stages of laminar–turbulent transition in the free shear layer.