Valentia Knight Traditional Geocache
Croaghan: Hi,
There has been no response from the cache owner so I'm Archiving this cache.
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Thanks and regards,
Niall
Croaghan - Volunteer Reviewer for Geocaching.com (Ireland)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This Geocache is located at the Western tip of Bray Head, on Valentia Island - approximately 350m beyond the Signal Tower.
Bray head is an amazing stroll to the south western tip of Valentia Island. Along the south eastern side you can see the remains of 16th Century beehive huts. Looking seaward, you can see the Skellig Islands - Skellig Michael and Little Skellig, both standing aloof in the Atlantic Ocean some 12 km southwest of Valentia Island. From any angle, or from any vantage point on the nearby Ring of Kerry, they are spectacular pinnacles. These Skellig islands are world-famous, each in its own right: Skellig Michael is known throughout the world of archaeology as the site of a well-preserved monastic outpost of the Early Christian period – home to hermit monks between the 6th and 18th century - now designated a World Heritage Site; Small Skellig is equally renowned in matters of ornithology as the home of some 27,000 pairs of gannets – the second largest colony of such seabirds in the world. A wisp of cloud often adorning the peaks of these pinnacles creates a volcanic impression! But there is nothing volcanic about these Skelligs rocks; they are created of the same 350–million-year-old Devonian Sandstone that runs right through the backbone of Kerry - from the county’s south-western headlands to the shores of Killarney's lakes.
George Bernard Shaw, the famous Irish dramatist and winner of the Noble prize for Literature in 1925 was so taken by his visit to the Skelligs on 17th September 1910 that he wrote:
"But for the magic that takes you out far out of this time and this world,
there is Skellig Michel ten miles off the Kerry coast, shooting straight up seven hundred feet sheer out of the Atlantic.
Whoever has not stood in the grave-yard on the summit of that cliff among the beehive dwellings and beehive oratory does not know Ireland through and through ".
Bray Signal Tower was built by British forces to watch the Atlantic for smugglers and invaders.
Bray Head is also where Guiliermo Marconi sent his first historic radio signal over the Atlantic Ocean to America on the 11th May, 1887.
The first transatlantic cable was laid between Valentia Island to Hearts Content, Newfoundland on the 14th July 1865. The cable came ashore close to the carpark area for this geocache – the site is marked with a plaque. The cable was laid by the largest ship of that time 'The Great Eastern'. The first commercial message sent read :"Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will to men"(sent by Queen Victoria to the American President).
Access to Valentia Island by road is Via Portmagee Village. Once you cross Valentia Bridge, turn left at the T-junction and travel for approximately 1.5 km, take left fork at junction - following the coastline to the small carpark at N51 53.516, W10 23.807. The treck starts here!
(There is also a seasonal Car-ferry service to the island from Renard Point, near Cahersiveen, to Knightstown)
The first 2km of the treck to the Signal Tower is along an unsurfaced road. Beyond the Signal Tower (N51 53.119, W10 25.508) the track turns to a faint grassy path meandering across the headland. Care should be taken in wet weather as the grass can be slippery. Also, be cautious of the sheer cliffs around the headland.
The Geocache is a clear plastic container - clip-seal type. The Geocache originally contained a notebook, pen and pencil, sharpener, eraser, keyring, combination lock, disposable camera, three pin plug, fishing float and fishing lure.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
haqre n syng fybcvat ebpx