Arty Oaks - Music Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
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This cache is one of a pair placed near oaks on the banks of the River Tay which have a connection to the performing arts. The other cache is “Arty Oaks - Drama”.
Niel Gow, the celebrated Scottish fiddler, was born in 1727 in nearby Inver and lived here until his death in 1807. It is said that he played and composed many of Scotland’s most popular melodies under an old oak tree next to the River Tay. Niel was patronised by the Atholl family and would often sit beneath the oak tree playing his fiddle while the Duke sat on the opposite bank enjoying the music drifting across the water.
Despite being self taught, Niel Gow had a natural genius for playing and composing, and quickly established himself as a skilled musician, At first he played at all the balls and parties held in the county, and soon he was in constant demand for social occasions throughout Scotland. Sudden acclaim by the Scottish nobility and gentry did not affect Gow's straightforward and honest character, and he found himself on equal and familiar terms with his social superiors, in whose presence he spoke his mind and cracked his jokes, unawed by their rank or wealth. The combination of frankness, good humour and his playing ability made Niel welcome in any of the grand houses in the country.
There are many anecdotes associated with Niel Gows sharp wit and dry sense of humour, and, given the location of this cache, it seems appropriate to give the following as an example: Niel was in the boat when the Duke of Atholl caught a salmon. "If you caught a fish like that what would you do with it?" quipped the Duke. "I'd send it to the Duke of Atholl" quickly replied Neil. The duke took the hint and Niel got the fish.
He composed a great number of tunes, the majority of which are lively and suited for dancing - indeed he is often regarded as the father of Strathspey and Reel music. As a performer he was widely acknowledged to have been the finest of his day, and can also be credited with adding the effect of the sudden shout, well known to todays ceilidh dancers, with which he frequently accompanied his playing in the quick tunes, and which seems to instantly rouse the spirits.
Niel Gow retained his faculties to the last, and continued to play and compose airs till within a year or two of his death - "Time and Gow are even now; Gow beat time, now Time's beat Gow".
His musical tradition lived on through his sons who all followed their father as fiddlers and composers of fiddle music.
And now for the cache details:
My suggestion is that you continue to this cache from its partner further downstream - “Arty Oaks - Drama”, parking in Birnam; however, if you wish to park elsewhere to try this one, there is parking at the Hermitage (NO 013 422) or at Newton Craig (NO 003 436). Whichever of the three car parks you choose will make little difference in terms of the length of the walk (unless you want to cross the A9 directly - DEFINITELY NOT RECOMMENDED!).
If you walk from “Arty Oaks - Drama”, keep to the riverside path as you travel upstream (a short while after you pass under the old arched bridge at Dunkeld the path will turn southwards to take you under the A9, and across a pedestrian bridge over the River Braan. Turn right at the end of this bridge to go back under the A9 and continue along the riverside).
Assuming that you are travelling from “Arty Oaks - Drama”, look left as you pass at N56 33.764 W003 34.941 and you will see a white church. Niel Gow is buried in its Kirkyard (his grave with fiddle engraving is at N56 33.732 W003 34.900).
N56 33.792 W003 35.381 will probably give you the best view of Dunkeld Cathedral from this walk - if you can spot it through the trees on the opposite bank.
Niel Gows Oak is at N56 33.802 W003 36.447. It is easily recognisable by the flowing wave-form wooden sculpture/seat underneath it, inscribed with the words “sit beneath the fiddle tree with the ghost of Niel Gow next to me”. Lie back on it and relax - it’s incredibly comfortable!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Onfr bs bnx