Chess themed Geocache No.7 - WHITE KING (Bucks)
I freely admit access to the start of this cache could be better!
The car park right next to the first location at the top of the hill is only for members of the Aston Mountain Bike Club, sadly.
I suggest you park somewhere between the Golf Club House (around N51 - 47.127 / W000 - 42.912) or
off the road where there's room for a small car (N51 - 47.039 / W000 - 42.806-ish.)
Nearer the top of the hill is a spot where a big 4x4 might be happy (about N51 - 46.986 / W000 - 42.610.)
Where ever you park, please take care if you're walking on the road. Walk on the right side to face oncoming traffic and keep well in. This is a fairly steep road and cars can come along it at a fair lick. Sometimes too fast, as a memorial half way up the hill to two boys tragically killed here not so long ago reminds us.
Your initial location is a monument to... Well, this hill, basically. It's called Aston Hill, and along with Lionel Martin it gives its name to that King of the Road,
and favourite transport of James Bond, the Aston Martin. You'll find the white stone pillar at N51° 46.979 / W00° 42.578. On its side is the story of how Aston Martin came about. Have a read. You'll learn that Lionel Martin drove a tuned Singer car up here on the Ath of April 19BC.
You'll find your next location at N51° 4(C+2).(A+C)B(C-2) / W00° 4(A-2).(A+3)C(A+B). It's a way-marking post with multiple arrows on it. To reach it you'll need to follow the footpath which passes close to a beautiful house and pass through the most secure looking kissing gate I've ever seen. At the post you'll need to turn left, climb a stile and locate a Black Pawn ahead of you. I say black, he's more of a red really. At his base you'll find
an S and a four figure number. I've called this number DEFG.
Your final target, the Cache, is located at:
N51° 4(A+C-B).EDB / W00° 4(A-2).(C+3)(F+B)G.
To get to the cache, continue along the footpath to the road and then either follow the arrow carefully down the hill and through a gap in the fence quite some way away,
or cross the road and follow the footpath away from the cache. Some distance along is another footpath which splits off to the left and heads back into the wood. I'd recommend you follow this course in the name of safety, especially if you're caching with children. It's also the
more scenic route to the cache. You might even get to see a Mountain Biker falling off and hurting themselves! Woo!
Happy hunting!
The cache originally contained:
1x Green rubber ball
1x Postcard
1x Candle
1x Keyring
1x Ceramic letter opener
1x Travel Bug!
Plus the usual: Log book, pen, pencil, plus a red bag to keep them dry, or to pinch to use 'Cache In Trash Out'-ing.
While you're in the area, I suggest you check (another vague Chess reference there. Did you spot it?) out my
Puerile Photo-cache No.1 - RUDE LADY (Bucks) or Dan & Pid's
The Chiltern Summit (Bucks).
They're both just a short drive away.
A small experiment - Please feel free to rate your visit to this cache out of ten in your log.