It's Huge! Traditional Cache
allieballie: I have been wondering whether or not to archive this one for some time now as I felt that now there is another one further up, it was maybe time for this one to go. However, it was my very first cache placement so it has sentimental value for me, and I have hummed and ha-ed about the decision. However TeamMorven's log sealed it for me - the road safety issue has always been a worry, and if people feel that this one has been out for a long time now and that, given the fact that there is another cache along here for the same feature, it's probably time for it to be archived, then so be it.
Bye bye first ever cache hide of mine [:(]
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This cache is a quick one, but I just couldn’t resist it - welcome to one of my favourite Perthshire landmarks.
What’s huge? This is - a Huge Hedge! The Meikleour hedge is officially the worlds tallest and longest hedge. Made solely of beech trees, it reaches an average height of 100 ft. and is a third of a mile long. It truly is an incredible sight.
Thought to be planted in 1745 by Jean Mercer of Meikleour and her husband Robert Murray Nairne, the hedge was originally grown as a boundary. There are two stories as to how the hedge grew to such an extent. The first states that shortly after the hedge was planted, Nairne was killed whilst fighting the English at Culloden. Jean Mercer then departed to stay with friends in Edinburgh and the hedge was left to grow uncontrolled. The second is similar, but this time it was the men that planted the hedge who were called away to fight and as not a single individual returned from the battle, the hedge was allowed to grow heaven-ward in tribute to their memory.
These days, the hedge is cut and measured every ten years, and takes a team of four men approximately six weeks to complete the job, the majority of which is carried out by hand!
Apparently the hedge looks at its best in the autumn when it becomes a riot of colour, so you may want to wait and visit it then. However it would make for an impressive view at any time of year.
Park at N56 31.863 W003 21.887 and you will have a very short walk to the cache. Please be careful though - this cache is beside a main road, and cars often tend to drive at great speeds here (don‘t understand why - I always want to drive as slowly as I can so I can admire this wonder for as long as possible). Remember also that the massive plant growth beside you might effect your GPS. If you can, switch it on to get a full signal before you are in the vicinity - I found that it took ages trying to get a signal once I’d parked in its' shadow.
Depending on what time of day you visit, your biggest challenge here may be to retrieve and hide the cache without being noticed. This road can get very busy!
The cache is very small, so little swaps only please. There are two small pencils in the cache but you may want to bring a pen just in case. I would imagine that this is also a popular spot for taking a photograph, so be careful to hide the cache well.
Cache contents at time of placing:
Pear shaped miniature candle (don’t know if it’s pear scented too!)
Small tube of glitter
Butterfly fridge magnet
Crystal rock
Miniature pack of playing cards
Miniature Knight
Bracelet
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Vafvqr gur ubyybj bs n ynetr, zbff-pbirerq gerr fghzc