Watt Trail? Multi-cache

This cache is going to take you on a tour of the grounds of Heriot-Watt University at Riccarton.

This should hopefully be a pleasant walk around an area that you may not have realised existed, however I am afraid as it is on university grounds there are a couple of rules to abide by.

• You must park at the car park at the entrance to the grounds, which is what the listed co-ordinates are for. Alternatively you can park across the road, or take the 1st left after the mini roundabout. Other than these 3 car parks you must have a permit to drive any further into the grounds. Alternatively you could catch a bus, the following numbers travel directly into the terminus within the campus. Nos. 25, 34, 45.
• You are not allowed dogs (sorry).

There are 5 different trails throughout the campus, and they are all marked by different coloured tags (most of which are on wooden posts). The trails are all fairly close to each other and some of them share the odd feature. There are far too many posts for me to take you around them all, and as they are so close to each other I can’t set more than one cache.
What I have done is that I have used all 5 trails! Now the good thing about this is that you only have to do one trail, as all of the trails will give you the same co-ordinates for the final container. So please don’t get flabbergasted over the amount of information, you are only required to complete 1 trail, although you are welcome to do all of them!

So ‘Watt’ trail will you use?

Some points to note:
1. The Art & Landscape trails require you to enter the university building. There is no access daily from 12 midnight to 6 a.m. and during most public/bank holidays (Christmas/New Year period this is more so), all other trails are accessible.
2. Ensure that you locate the correct coloured tag, as some trails do share the same features.
3. Each trail has a link to a map on it; the blotches on the maps are the area of the tags. Some trails I have left out a couple of points, but between all of the trails you will be taken all over the campus.
4. Printing off the map for your specific trail may help you a lot with navigating around and through the buildings. Please ignore the dotted routes that are printed on the map.
5. None of the waypoints are accurate, all of them take you to the general area, and from there you will have to locate the feature and tag. WP 05 for example, covers an extremely large area.

Unless otherwise stated the trails will be laid out in the following order :

Way Point – Feature name – The number that you require from the tag i.e. 1A

History Trail
Brown Numbered Tags (Remember to print the Map).

The old gardens of Riccarton House are at the heart of Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh Campus and have been safeguarded during site development. Visitors are invited to stroll and enjoy the tranquillity of the estate. The history trail is mostly on surfaced paths but in wet weather the Velvet Walk should be avoided.

Listed Cache Co-ordinates – Pinetum– 1A
A collection of exotic conifers was a popular feature of Victorian plant collectors gardens. This is one of the neglected over-mature woodlands that the University inherited, where the majority of original conifers were blown down in the 1968 gales. The oldest trees that remain are over 200 years old. A collection of new exotic conifers is now developing.

01 – Walled Garden – 1B
The original kitchen garden of Riccarton House has been used as an all-weather sports pitch and now a well-screened car park and is a listed structure. The gardeners’ bothies are still present on the north wall. The wall would have been heated by stoves, and probably had glazed lean-to glasshouses facing south to enable exotic fruit to be produced for the house.

02 – Gardener’s Cottage – 1C
In the 19th century, the Head Gardener was an important person, responsible for the food production and ornamental gardens. For an estate of this size there would have been more than 50 gardeners. The Gardeners Cottage and its small garden are at the heart of the estate. The Cottage, its boundary wall and very fine metal railings are listed structures.

03 – Riccarton House – D
At the heart of the estate, on the site now occupied by the Library, Museum and Archive, once stood Riccarton House, a fine mansion in the elegant setting of ornamental gardens and a loch.

04 – The Lawn – E
The Formal Garden was immediately north of Riccarton House. The gardens date back to before 1750. The present lawn is quite similar to the original except that flower beds surrounded the golden drum yews. The yew tree drums, over 200 years old, are laid out in symmetrical fashion. The oval shaped impression in the lowest part of the lawn was a curling rink, flooded and frozen in winter. During the 19th century, the Gibson-Craigs extensively re-modelled the gardens and introduced many new varieties of tree. In 1850, the garden extended further northwards and contained a summer house. The woodland contains several specimen trees from the plant collection and at one time would have had an informal path system. The garden today is a remnant of the extensive gardens of Riccarton House (now much simplified in layout and landscape maintenance). The original gardens extended through to the Burial Ground, with ponds, shrubberies and a summer house. Much of the garden is now woodland as the trees have developed in height and spread.

Garden Chronology
• Riccarton House was built in the 15th century and greatly extended in 1621 and 1827. The oldest part of the house was the tower house.
• The then Formal Garden, now the Lawn, were laid out by 1755. A document of 1875 describes them as a flower garden with shapes cut in green turf and flowers planted in their seasons.
• The Velvet Walk was lined with rhododendrons and deciduous trees by 1850 and contained a specimen of magnolia conspicua. • The family burial ground was laid out by James Gibson-Craig (1765-1850). It was surrounded by ashes, elms and hollies by 1878.
• The front lawn contained peacock, sheep and croquet in 1878. Sentinel sycamores were located on either side of the house.
• The loch is thought to have been constructed around 1850.
• The Summer House was removed by 1913.
• The gardens and paths below the Velvet Walk, and the stream were culverted by 1913.
• Riccarton House was demolished in 1956.
• By 1956 flower beds in the lawn no longer existed.
• First monkey puzzle tree removed.
• Sundial removed leaving stone base.
• Midlothian Council gifted the estate to Heriot-Watt University in 1969, marked with a commemorative border with a plaque which now lies within the grassy area at the top of the avenue.
• Corsican pine died and removed in 1970.
• Second Monkey puzzle died and removed in 1983.
• Rhododendron invasion was checked in 1992.
• Management Plan was developed in 1994.

05 – Central Woodlands – F
Giant Redwood and Monkey Puzzle are typical of plants brought back by victorian plant collectors. It was highly fashionable to include specimens of the new plants in the garden, although no-one knew how big they would grow in Britain.

05 – Gibson-Craig Burial Ground – G
The iron railings and gate mark the entrance to the family burial ground which was laid out as an extension to the gardens in the middle of the last century. Please respect the privacy of the burial ground which still belongs to the descendants of the Gibson-Craig family.

05 – Velvet Walk – H
The Velvet Walk, so called because of the fine turf, is a garden terrace leading to the Gibson-Craig family burial ground. Below the terrace were lawns, shrubberies and a stream, now culverted. On the northern side is a formal evergreen edge of yew, holly and laurel, a traditional garden style of the time. This formed part of the pleasure gardens of Riccarton House which were initially developed in the 17th century, and added to in the 18th century. Over the centuries they have gradually become simplified, and in this part of the garden are now woodlands.

06 – Fire Pond– J
The fire pond was constructed as a convenient source of water for use in the event of fire in the mansion-house. Before fire brigades, each country house had to be self sufficient in fire fighting.

06 – Carriage Drive – K
The carriage drive was the service approach to the house, from the stables where the James Watt Centre now stands. At the point where the walls on either side of the path reach their greatest height there was a footbridge passing overhead connecting the house to the gardens. The remains of the old steps and a bridge can be seen beyond the north wall. Also visible are foundations of more recent buildings and drains which date from the military period in the 1940s.

06 – Ice House – L
During the winter months, ice was taken off the loch and stored in the ice house, a deep pit in the ground well-insulated with stone walls and roof topped with earth. This was the typical 19th century way in which ice would be available, well into the summer months, to help preserve food. It is now protected as a listed building.

07 – Loch – 1M
The ornamental loch is an historic landscape feature which would have supported wildfowl and fish for use in the house kitchens.

08 – Fuschia ‘Riccartonii’ – N
Fuchsia ‘Riccartonii’, a hardy fuchsia, was raised by James Young in the 1830s at Riccarton. Fuchsias were an introduced plant brought to Britain by Victorian plant collectors from Chile, where the coastal climate is similar to our own.

09 – North Lodge – 1O
From the co-ords walk north along Hermiston Walk until you reach the North Lodge.
The very fine stonework, wall, gate piers and decorative chimney have earned it “A” listed status.

10 – The Lime Avenue – 1P
The limes were planted in 1882, at which time this was the main entrance to the house, rather than the south entrance. The sycamores pre-date the limes. A West Avenue may have been replanted at the same time, although this was removed in 20th century.

11 – East Lodge – 1Q
Records show the East Lodge may have been altered or rebuilt to conform to the new image of Riccarton House.

Final Co-ordinates are – N55° 5(A+E-D).(B+P)(J+H)O W003° 1(K+M-F).(N-P)(L-G-Q)(C+D)

The trail has missing posts, I am disabling it until they either get replaced or the cache gets archived. Still 4 more enjoyable trails to choose from though.

Landscape Trail
Green Numbered Tags (Remember to print the Map).

12 – Pinetum – A
One of the neglected over-mature woodlands that the University inherited, where the majority of original conifers were blown down in the 1968 gales. The oldest trees that remain are over 200 years old. A collection of new exotic conifers are now developing.

01 – Walled Garden – B
The original kitchen garden of Riccarton House has been used as an all-weather sports pitch but is now a well-screened central area overspill car park.

13 – James Watt Centre – C
The impressive Hungarian Oak (Quercus frainetto) in the Main Concourse was root pruned and protected throughout 25 years of progressive building construction. The Collegiate Lawn forms a welcoming open space at the heart of the campus.

13 – The Bridge Link – D
Enter the main entrance, turn right and follow the corridor until you come to the bridge link.
The magnificent view from the Bridge gives the first hint of the protected historic landscape at the heart of the campus. To the east is the Loch, and to the west are the Gardens, hidden from this viewpoint. The entire site planning of the campus has been modelled around these high quality central landscape features. The Bridge respects the spatial quality by passing over the landscape.
Walk back over the bridge link and exit at the first left.

14 – Leonard Horner Cedar – E
A 250-year-old parkland tree that was prepared two years in advance of construction by root pruning to ensure survival. The buildings were planned around the tree including the nearby sycamores.

15 – Loch – F
The ornamental loch is an historic landscape feature which has become a focus for the east student village. Wildlife, and birds in particular, add sound and movement in the landscape. This is understandably very popular with students, although the swans can be very defensive when nesting.

08 – The Walk – 1G
The Walk is the main pedestrian access thoroughfare shared by pedestrians and cyclists. It separates the residences to the south from the academic buildings to the north. No cars are allowed in the central area, and car parking is located at the perimeter of the site. The University’s Green Travel Plan encourages use of cycles and public transport.

09 – Hermiston Walk – 1H
Hermiston Walk is another old woodland inherited by the University. It is typical of the older woodlands, with a wide species and age diversity, and it provides excellent mature wildlife habitat. All campus woodlands (total 33ha) are managed under a rolling five year Woodland Management Programme, with felling and replanting taking place every year.

17 – Millennium Garden – 1J
This elevated position enjoys a distant view to the Forth Bridges. The site has been reclaimed using project construction spoil and the sculptural stone walled brochs provide a place for celebration of the University’s progressive development as well as a place for memorials.

05 – The Lawn – 1K
The Lawn is one of the delights of the campus. Students and visitors are always surprised to find this tranquil haven so close to the centre of the campus. The Lawn that you see today is a remnant of the 18th century pleasure gardens of Riccarton House, now much simplified in layout and landscape maintenance. The areas surrounding the Lawn are botanically very interesting, with a very high number of small growing plant species present. The bank of rhododendrons on the north side of the Lawn forms a stunning backdrop to the lawns in early summer. One of the highlights of the University year is the garden party after the graduation ceremony which takes place on the Lawn in July, leaving students with a rich memory of their time in Riccarton.

18 – Playing Fields Shelter Belt – L
Shelter belts are a traditional feature of the lowlands of Scotland. They provide very effective wind shelter from the prevailing winds.

18 – Playing Fields & Sports Academy – M
The playing fields were the first major landscape project at Riccarton, two years in advance of the arrival of the first students. Enjoyment of open space, sports and recreation go hand in hand with the campus landscape experience. The Sports Academy is one of the most recent additions to the campus.

19 – Woodlands & South Strip – N
Several over-mature woodlands and young conifer plantations were inherited by the University in 1969 and are now being managed for increased species and age diversity. Glades of new hardwood planting are being established and valuable wildlife habitat created by log piles. Over 250,000 new trees have been planted since 1970.

Final Co-ordinates are – N55° 5(C+H).(K+D)(B+J-D)G W003° 1(F+M-N).E(L-D)A

Art Trail
Gold Numbered Tags (Remember to print the Map).

Art is a core part of the University’s Registered Museum collection, managed by the Archive Records Management and Museum Service. The university’s collecting is focused on their history, going back to 1821, and also includes works by artists associated with the Edinburgh College of Art (ECA). This policy reflects the long academic connections and the fact that the campus was designed by an ECA alumnus. The university acquire art by donation and commission the occasional purchase. A continuing programme of placing sculpture into the maturing landscape is in progress with a particular emphasis on contemporary art. You are invited to walk freely around the campus and enjoy the landscape and sculpture. This section describes such a walk, taking in some of the highlights of the collection. In addition to the works featured on this trail, art is displayed in the Museum and Archive, library and other indoor locations across the campus which you are welcome to view by prior arrangement.

13 – Watt a Clever Cow – A

The cow has been temporarily removed for repair. The post is still present so the trail is still achievable.

Capturing the hearts and imaginations of millions worldwide, CowParade travels to exciting cities around the globe. In 2006, the City of Edinburgh was delighted to take part and host its largest ever public art exhibition for charity. For three months visitors to the city could follow the Cow Trail through its buildings, streets and public places, experiencing the creativity and passion of the Edinburgh artistic community. Heriot-Watt was delighted to join in the experience and our cow, Watt a Clever Cow, designed by staff and students in the School of Textiles and Design happily grazed in Edinburgh’s Festival Square. The university’s sponsored cow now lives on campus for all to enjoy.

13 – James Watt – B
On a red sandstone plinth is the seated figure of James Watt, who has been revered as an iconic role model for students since the earliest days of the Edinburgh School of Arts. This statue was made for the University's predecessor, the Watt Institution and School of Arts, by Peter Slater, who taught ornamental modelling there. When the statue was unveiled in 1854 students and staff celebrated all night and formed the Watt Club – now the oldest graduate association in the UK. Originally displayed outside the Watt Institution building in Adam Square, this stone carving was moved first to Heriot- Watt College in Chambers Street, then in 1990 to its current position. The plinth under the statue contains a time capsule.

13 – Stained Glass Window – C
Above the entrance to the James Watt Centre.
This window by Shona McInnes was commissioned for the James Watt Centre which opened in 1990. Viewed from outside, in front of the entrance, the roundels represent the following subjects: top: engineering; bottom: science; left: economics and social studies; right: environmental studies.

13 – The Busts of Leonard Horner – D & George Heriot – E
Inside the glass entrance doors to the James Watt Centre are sandstone busts of two great heroes of Heriot-Watt’s history: Leonard Horner (1785-1865), educational and social reformer, who founded the trailblazing Edinburgh School of Arts in 1821; and George Heriot (1563-1634), goldsmith and banker to King James VI, who left his riches to fund education in Edinburgh. In 1885 the George Heriot Trust merged with the Watt Institution to form Heriot-Watt College. The busts were displayed on the façade of the former Chambers Street building for over a century until 1989, when the University left the building in the course of its move to Riccarton. The busts were conserved with support from the Scottish Museums Council and moved to their current location in 1998.

13 – The Body – F
Within the James Watt Centre. To the left of the main Reception is a steel pillar which was bought in 1993 by the University, from its creator William Edmonds, a third year sculpture student at Edinburgh College of Art, then an associated college of Heriot-Watt University. An upright steel structure, with mirrored glass central panels.
Walk past the reception and follow the corridor, exit left before the bridge link.

21 – Two Blocks for Self Sacrifice – 1G
Two mysterious bronze boxes appear to be set at odds to the building and landscape. This thought-provoking sculpture by William Edmonds was placed here in 1994.

05 – Sundial Base – 1H
At the heart of the Lawn is the oval impression of a curling rink and beside it the plinth for a sundial which was removed in 1956.

17 – Old Milestone – 1J
This old milestone came from the A1 at Haddington. It is part of the museum collection of Institution of Civil Engineers, East of Scottish Branch which is displayed in the William Arrol Building.

16 – The May Cippico Fountain – K
Situated on the grass, this delightful bronze sculpture of a girl by a pool was gifted to Heriot-Watt University by the Constance Fund in London, under the auspices of the British Society of Sculptors. It was designed by James Butler and sculpted in memory of Countess May Cippico who died in1980.

20 – A Stone for Ravenscraig – 1L
This sculpture, commissioned especially for the Mountbatten Building in 1989, was created by Stanley Wilson using Kilkenny fossil limestone, and placed here in 1992. Stanley Wilson graduated with a BA in sculpture from Edinburgh College of Art in 1992, and was employed as the University’s sculptor in residence to produce various works.

07 – A Stone for the Whales – M
This sculpture made of Kilkenny limestone, of a whale and calf leaping from the waves, was also created by Stanley Wilson, and placed here in 1994.

07 – Finn Stone – N
Facing the front door of the Leonard Horner Hall is the Finn Stone. Carved from fossil rich Kilkenny limestone, this sculpture was also created by Stanley Wilson and placed here in 1992.

Final Co-ordinates are – N55° 5(D+H).(C+F)(A+G)(K-M-J) W003° 1(B+E).(L+M)(N-B)(E+G)

TREE TRAIL
Metal Numbered Tags. (Remember to print the Map)

23 – Wellingtonia – 3B
Over 150 years old and 26m tall, the tallest tree on the campus and still growing. Other trees within the immediate area are - Western Hemlock, Noble Fir, Norway Maple & the Coast Redwood

05 – Lawn & Central Woodlands
The following trees can all be found within this area.

Lawson Cypress – C
This shows how large a ‘garden’ species can grow, although the top blew off in a recent storm. Note branch form drooping from the stem then upswept. North American origin. Other trees in the immediate area are - Small Tasmanian Cedar, Birch, Western Red Cedar & the Copper Beech.

Golden Yew – 2E
Golden form of the common yew.

Irish Yew – 2F
One of several in the garden. Note distinctive upright growth habit.

Monkey Puzzle – 2D
Sometimes known as the Chile Pine, this unique species was introduced in Britain in 1795 by the Scots explorer Archibald Menzies. The large seeds are edible.

Douglas Fir – 2G
Named in honour of the Scots explorer and botanist David Douglas, who first introduced this species from North West America in 1827.
Other trees in the immediate area are – Western Yellow Pine, Tulip Tree, Grand Fir (destroyed during the Hogmanay 2006 gales), Sawara Cypress, Corsican Pine, Japanese Red Cedar, Spanish Fir, Scot’s Pine, Western Hemlock, Wellingtonia, Japanese Arbor-Vitae, Coast Redwood, English Oak, Spanish Chestnut, Scots Pine, Ash, Cucumber Tree, Adpressa Yew & the Dwarf Lawsons Cypress

Spanish Chestnut – H1 (Choose wisely, as there is more than one in the area).
This is the Riccarton Sweet Chestnut, possibly the oldest tree on the campus. It is over 250 years old. A group of trees that originated from a single huge old tree which has died back leaving peripheral shoots. Other trees in the immediate area are - Yellow Buckeye Chestnut & the Western Red Cedar

13 - Hungarian Oak – J2
Distinctively different from common oak.

The final co-ordinates are N55° 5J.B(F+H)A W003° 1G.(D+E)CF

Bird Trail
Blue Numbered Tags (Remember to print the Map).

When the University took over the Riccarton Estate, studies of the wildlife present on campus were immediately undertaken.
As development commenced in the early 1970’s, studies continued year upon year to check the effect on bird life and a later report showed very little impact. Since that time development has continued and new landscape on the campus has created favourable habitats for more bird species. The wildlife is enjoyed by staff, students and visitors throughout the year. This trail describes the important areas for bird life and lists the species which have been recorded over the past 10 years.

12 – Pinetum & East Shelter Belt – A
This is an area of mainly mature mixed woodland with a fairly dense understorey. The species to be found here are very similar to the south east strip, but you have a better chance of seeing the jackdaw and treecreeper on the more mature trees.

09 – Hermiston Walk – B
From the co-ords walk north along Hermiston Walk. The tag can be found on the left side of the walk.
This is an area of mature mixed woodland with a very poor understorey but still has its own merits. This is one of the few places where you might find barn owls, as they feed along the field edges from time to time. There are also tawny owls to be found. Looking over the fields to the west of the woodland you can find yellowhammer, meadow pipit, skylark, greenfinch, brambling and stock dove feeding on the ground.

15 – Loch – C
The main feature of this area is the small loch which is the main attraction for species such as mute swan, tufted duck, moorhen, mallard, grey heron, black headed gull and grey wagtail. The areas of mature woodland surrounding the loch are good areas for seeing siskin, which have become more numerous in the past ten years and have started to breed here over the past few years. Other species to be found in this area are wood pigeon, collard dove, bullfinch, mistle thrush and during the summer feeding, swallows and sand martins.

05 – The Lawn & Central Woodlands – D
This is an area of mature woodland, with an open shrub understorey. One of the main features of this woodland in spring and summer is the large rookery, which can contain up to 50 breeding pairs. The shrub layer is a haven for several warbler species, notably blackcap, garden warbler, and the occasional chiffchaff. This is one of the areas in which is to observe great spotted woodpecker. Most of the common resident woodland species are also found here.

22 – West Shelter Belt Central – E
This area contains a larger population of warblers due to its location, as it adjoins an area of dense birch scrub outside the campus. There is a large population of willow warblers to be found here as well as sedge warbler, white throat, blackcap, garden warbler and one of two pairs of chiffchaff. Goldcrest and coal tit can also be found feeding in larch trees.

Now go through the gate into the woods and turn left (south). Follow this path for about 1km where you will find the last 3 tags of this trail.

West Shelter Belt South – F
This is an area of mixed woodland with trees of varying age. There are areas of dense scrub and bramble thickets. The species most likely to be found here are magpie, woodpigeon, great tit, blue tit and goldfinch. In summer, willow warbler, whitethroat and blackcap, are known to breed in small numbers. One species to be looked for at dusk during summer is the woodcock, which can be seen displaying through the more mature trees.

South Strip – G
This area consists mainly of mature spruce and larch trees, with a few mature broad-leafed trees scattered around. This is probably the best area to see a sparrow hawk as it hunts along the main path. Other notable species in this woodland are siskin, goldcrest and spotted flycatcher. Just to the north of this area are the playing fields which act as feeding grounds for several species during the winter e.g. curlew, oystercatcher, common gull, lesser black-backed gull and herring gull. The shelter belts around the playing fields are important habitats for redpoll, bullfinch, goldfinch, song thrush and blackbird during the breeding season.

South East Strip – H
This is an area of semi-mature mixed woodland with a few mature trees throughout. The more important species to be found here are tawny owl, stock dove, blackcap, sparrow hawk and spotted flycatcher. Most other resident woodland species are to be found here in quite large numbers.

The final co-ordinates are – N55° 5G.H(C+D)(E+F-H) W003° 1(B+D).CEA

The above information was kindly supplied by the Press and Public Relations Office at Heriot-Watt University and forms part of their "Campus Guide - A Place to Discover" publication. © Heriot-Watt University 2006

Travel Bugs are the property of the person who has released them. Therefore I do not count them as a swap item.
Please DO NOT take an item in exchange for any Travel Bugs that you may wish to leave in this cache.

If you are new to Geocaching or don't know the area, then have a look at my bookmark lists for Edinburgh, you may find them helpful.