Almondbank Village Stroll
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This is a circular walk around the village of Almondbank, near Perth. The area used to be a very industrious one in the 19th Century due to the numerous bleachworks nearby, and Almondbank was born from this industry. Today the villageās main employer by far is DARA, who amongst other things, maintain and repair helicopters for the Armed Forces, but you mustnāt tell anyone.
Cache is NOT located at the above co-ordinates, but it is nearby. It is a small container with a log and pencil. You will have to obtain clues during your walk through the village to establish the cacheās resting place. Some of the walk is on pavements and roadways, so please take care with children and dogs.
***Congratulations to IamAJMiller for FTF!!***
Ample parking is available at N56 24.898 W003 30.842, adjacent to the river Almond, which gives the village its name. The river flows from west of the Smaā Glen and joins the River Tay just north of Perth at Inveralmond.
From the car park, walk northwards along the tarmac path on the west side of the river. A new path has recently been put in here due to part of the original path being closed off due to river erosion. The park on your left is a popular recreational area, with amateur football being played here during the season and it is enjoyed by children and dog walkers throughout the year. It was formerly used by the Almondvalley Cricket Club, who moved to Perth several years ago, but the park is still known locally as the Cricket Pitch. You should soon arrive at:
Almondvalley Bowling Club (N56 24.979 W003 30.933)
The club welcomes visitors, if you fancy a quick game. Looking at the main entrance from the riverside path, how many black bowls are there in total on the two cast iron gates? (A)
Continue north along the riverside for about a hundred yards on the grass track and then turn left up the hill into Main Street. Immediately on your left should be:
Almondbank Inn (N56 25.024 W003 31.017)
This pub has been here for well over a century and appears on an old 1867 map of the village. Why not pop in and take a wee refreshment? Bar lunches and suppers are available most days. What number in Main Street do these premises occupy? (L)(M)
Continue northwards in Main Street, taking care where the road crosses the bridge over the Almond, as the footway is very narrow here. Following the road round and up to your left, you will come to:
St. Serfs Church (N56 25.218 W003 31.023)
A school originally occupied this site before the church moved here from its original location nearby. But more of that later. The current church celebrated its centenary a few years ago. On one of the church walls there is an inlaid stone which reads: "This Memorial Stone Was Laid Sep (N) (O)(P)(Q)(R)ā
On leaving the church, cross the road, turn to your right and follow the elevated footpath to the:
Almondbank War Memorial (N56 25.177 W003 30.969)
Here, those from this area who fell during the Great War of 1914 to 1918 are remembered. From the inscriptions on the memorial, how many letters are there in the surname most commonly listed? (S)
From the memorial, head back down to the main road, but instead of crossing the bridge again, turn left and walk along College Mill Road. Take care here, as there are no pavements. Located on your left about a hundred yards along this road you will find:
Almondbank Graveyard (N56 25.080 W003 30.902)
No longer used for current burials, this graveyard was in use between Medieval times and the 19th Century and could easily go unnoticed by the casual passerby The original St.Serfs Church and Manse were located at the rear of this graveyard. Find the gravestone with a hand pointing to the heavens and the words āMeet Me Thereā beneath it. If you take the combined ages of Jessie and Jane and subtract the age of Annie, what number do you have? (F)
On leaving the graveyard, turn left. The ponds you may be able to see through the hedge on your right form part of College Mill Trout Farm. Continue down College Mill Road until it bends around to the right before crossing the River Almond again, this time over:
The Black Bridge (N56 24.906 W003 30.821)
This bridge, which isnāt black, is not open to motor vehicles and replaced the one which was swept away by the floods of January 1993. The Almond and its local tributaries burst their banks and the entire park and most of the main road were totally under water. At the south-west end of the bridge there is a plaque detailing its short history. The bridge was completed on June 8 199(T) by 10(V) (London) Engineer Regiment.
You should now be back in the area of your starting location, and having gathered all of the required clues, the cache can be located at:
N56 2(A). (B)(C)(D) W003 30.(E)(F)(G) where:
B=(A+G)
C=(D/E)
D= (N+O+P+Q+R)/L
E=(S-M)
G=(T-V)
The cache can be accessed without crossing any fences or leaving the path. GPS was a little inconsistent due to overhead cables, but clue will help. When (if!) you find it, wave your hands in the air as I might be watching from my house! Good luck and thanks for visiting.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Rnfg raq ba fbhgu fvqr