GC38XRP Mega2012: Chapel Island Picnic (Event Cache) in North West England, United Kingdom created by The North West 2012 Mega Event Team

This cache has been archived.

North West Mega: Thanks to everyone who turned up to this event to make it so special. We enjoyed it and we hope you did too.

If anyone still hasn’t logged their attendance, you can still do so, even after it has been archived

Look forward to seeing you all at the 6th UK Mega in the West Midlands in 2013

The North West Mega Team

GC38XRP ▼

A cache by The North West 2012 Mega Event Team Message this owner

Hidden : Friday, August 10, 2012

Difficulty:

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Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

In August 2012 the UK Mega Event is coming to Cartmel in Cumbria. This picnic on Chapel Island is one of a varied series of events supporting this Mega Event. It is hosted by Duncan (duncscott) supported by other members of the North West Mega Event Team.

Enjoy a few hours of high adventure as you retrace the route of the ancient coach route across Morecambe Bay from Ulverston to Cark. The actual event will be a (bring your own) picnic on Chapel Island, located in the Leven sands of Morecambe Bay. Chapel island is approximately 400m long and just over 100m wide and is an overgrown limestone outcrop.

When & Where :
Friday 10th August 2012

The event is the Picnic on Chapel Island between 13:30pm and 14:00pm. You can join the group at any point before or during the picnic.

History :
In the 14th century, monks from nearby Conishead Priory built a chapel on the island for travellers and fishermen, as well as a safe haven for those caught out by the tide when crossing the bay. This original chapel no longer exists and a new one was built many years later. It’s the ruins of this chapel that can still be seen on the island.

Exploration may also find the ruins of an early 19th century cottage. Census records show it was occupied between 1851 and 1871. There was no entry in the 1881 Census indicating that the last residents had by then left the island, and moved to the mainland. During this period, on 6 October 1858 the Ulverston based sloop ‘Delight’ grounded on the rocks of Chapel Island. She was carrying a cargo of iron ore and empties. Her master was sadly lost in the accident.

Sign in Cartmel pointing across the Sands to Ulverston

Sign in Cartmel pointing across the Sands to Ulverston

Tides and Trains :
Timings for the day are dictated by tides and train times, which are yet to be confirmed, and are subject to change.

Low Tide should be at ten minutes past midday at Row Island. We will therefore be aiming to leave Canal Foot at 12.30pm. Tidal information for Morecambe Bay can be found here.

An adult single train ticket between Cark and Ulverston is approx £2.70. Train times as of December 2011 are as follow. (Note, not all trains stop at Cark!)

Train times from Cark to Ulverston before the crossing are :

Cark	Ulverston
10:14am	10:22am	(then a 45 minute walk to Canal Foot)
12:07pm	12:15pm	(then a short taxi journey to Canal Foot)

Train times from Ulverston to Cark after the crossing are :

Ulverston	Cark
15:41pm	16:09pm	Changing at Grange-over-Sands (arr 15:53pm dep 16:01pm)
16:38pm	16:46pm
17:38pm	17:45pm

The latest rail timetable can be seen here. In planning whether to use the train before or after the walk, please remember the walk finish time is approximate, and you may have wet feet and clothes after the walk!

Schedule :
The current draft plan for the day is :

-	10:00am	Start Cark Railway Station
-	10:14am	Board train for Ulverston
-	10:22am	Arrive Ulverston
		Walk through Dragley Beck and along the Rope Walk
-	11:00am	Arrive Canal Foot
-	12:30pm	Leave Canal Foot for Chapel Island
-	13:30pm	Arrive Chapel island for the Picnic
-	14:00pm	Leave Chapel Island
-	15:30pm	Finish back at the Engine Inn, Cark

The Walk :
On leaving Ulverston you are committed to a 5 mile walk across the sands to Cark. This will involve wading through a couple of channels of moving water (River Leven) which are the outflow of Coniston and Windermere. Its speed and depth is variable and dependant upon recent weather. A large scale map of the full route is available here.

For the crossing, a pair of old trainers should be adequate footwear. Shorts or old tracksuit bottoms and a warm waterproof top should also be worn. A change of clothing, a towel and your picnic can be carried in a small rucksack.

Please note, If the weather is particularly bad, we reserve the right to change the walk, or abandon it all together on the grounds of safety.

Sign pointing the way across the Sands to Chapel Island and Cark

Sign pointing the way across the Sands to Chapel Island and Cark

Geocaches :
As well as the event cache itself, this route will give you the opportunity to find the following geocaches :

GC2DT4A	Traditional	FNF - Middle of the Road 2
GC1W6QR	Traditional	The Laurel and Hardy Museum
GC1744N	Multi-Cache	Outcast Rope Walk
GC1GKP2	Unknown/Puzzle	BoB Canal
GC1GP4A	Unknown/Puzzle	BoB II - Powerhouse
GC11ZY8	Traditional	Chapel Island

If you plan to come on this picnic and crossing, please log a “will attend” indicating the numbers of adults/children in your group, and also indicate where you plan to join the group.

Please remember to keep visiting the North West Mega website for the latest information on the UK’s 5th Mega Event in 2012.