The Laganside cycle path
The Laganside cycle path is part of the National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 9 and links the Lagan Towpath to the Belfast Lough Cycle Way (NCN Route 93).
With over 500,000 recorded visits a year, the 12-mile Lagan Towpath connecting Belfast with Sprucefield (Lisburn) qualifies as the most popular public pathway in Northern Ireland.
During 2006/7 works undertaken in partnership with SUSTRANS on the Edenderry, Drumbridge and Lambeg sections of towpath have widened and improved the surface to NCN standards, wherever practicable.
The cache is hidden at the edge of the Laganside cycle path approximately half way between the Queen's Bridge and Albert Bridge (named after Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria).
The Queens Bridge was built and opened in 1849 by Queen Victoria. It replaced the Long Bridge. Many versions of the Long Bridge were destroyed during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and a more permanent structure was deemed necessary.
The MournesRambler series
This cache is the starting point of both MournesRambler series.
The recommended mode of transport for these series is a bicycle, but it should also be quite feasible to complete either of them on foot and they can probably be found most quickly if you travel by car. If you find all the caches in a series one after the other please let us know (in your log entry) how long it took you so that others will know roughly how long it might take them.
If you are feeling very fit you could combine both MournesRambler series - starting with Sprucefield near Lisburn and finishing with Grey Matters No. 2 - End of the Greenway near Comber, or vice versa (43 caches in all, over approximately 20 miles!).
Congratulations to the following 3 cachers who managed to find all but one of the caches in one day! As a bonus, they also found my first ever cache (Mon Beau Sapin) which is no longer part of the series since it is considered to be too much of a digression.
They walked along the Greenway from Comber to Belfast and then hired bicycles to continue their journey along the towpath to Lisburn, before returning by train.
The MournesRambler I Series
There are 19 caches in the MournesRambler I series which is designed to lure you away from the bright city lights along the Comber Greenway:
The MournesRambler II Series
There are currently 25 caches in the MournesRambler II series which is also designed to lure you away from the bright city lights along the Lagan Towpath:
Bon voyage!
The Gregg's Quay cache
The cache is about the same length as a 35mm film canister, but smaller diameter. It only contains a log book so please bring your own pen/pencil.
The cycle path is frequented by muggles so please use stealth when looking for and re-hiding the cache.
If you are looking for it after dark, I would recommend bringing a flashlight, but please remember it will draw more attention to you, even from people some distance away.