Hearts of Stone Multi-cache
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Did any Valentines cards come through your letterbox this year? Here’s a LETTERBOX cache from me to you for the 14th February!
Co-ordinates given above are for the first clue. Limited street parking available near to the old churchyard, proper car park available at N56 06.885 W003 34.452 - cross the road and walk down to the old churchyard.
I came here last summer to do a bit of research for another cache I had planned, however when I saw the gravestones here I decided to keep this one until Valentines Day. Many of the gravestones are marked with marriage lintel style carvings - where the initials are separated by a heart. You will have to track down some of these in order to work out the final co-ordinates. I have never seen these in a graveyard before and I’m unsure what they could signify when they are accompanied by dates - are they marriage dates? Or death dates? Surely it would be too much of a co-incidence for so many couples to have died in the same year?
Before you enter the graveyard, have a look up the drive to the left of the gates. This is Kirkland House and it is home to the Stone Men of Saline - you can see two of them standing at the top of the drive, and it is possible to just see the other two as well if you lean over the wall at the NE end of the graveyard. These statues are of Tam O'Shanter and Souter Johnny, two well known characters from Robert Burns, and two others are of Simon and Bauldy, characters from the poem 'The Gentle Shepherd', by Allan Ramsay. The sculptor of all four was Robert Forrest, 1790-1852.
Stone 1 (N56 06.950 W003 34.277):
This rests against the eastern wall of the ruined crypt. The top of the stone is also shaped like the top of a heart. JT loved HT in 18ab
Note that underneath it says “3 rooms” - this, or “2 rooms”, is marked on a number of the stones here. I have no idea what it could mean. If anyone could shed any light on it I’d be grateful to know.
Stone 2 (N56 06.943 W003 34.281)
2 stones south of the crypt gateway AM loved AW (inscription faces east). The date is 18cd
Stone 3 (N56 06.937 W003 34.291):
This is found in the SW corner of the graveyard. The inscription faces east and is bordered by a pair of carved columns. WB loved MC in 18ef
Stone 4 (N56 06.937 W003 34.266):
We need some flowers with our hearts for Valentines Day! Find the cross. g = how many carved flowers are on its west side?
Stone 5 (N56 06.940 W003 34.244):
Find the stone with the triangular top under the holly tree. The inscription faces west so you will have to manoeuvre under the tree to see it! WS loved AB (Who? Me? Really?!) in 17hj
If you cannot get under the tree, then you will find the date you need on at least two other stones (must have been a very loving year?) - nearby at N56 06.943 W003 34.255 on the stone south of the large monument with the sphere on top (DB loved ?B), or at N56 06.945 W003 34.263 on the top of the stone with the triangular top where J/I/T? M loved CC and WM loved JO!
Stone 6 (N56 06.946 W003 34.273):
This inscription is marked on the top surface of the stone. The stone is west of a tree growing between graves. Use the A=1, B=2 system for this question. D? loved M? (you are looking for the initial of their surname - it is the same for both)
Your answer here = k in the equation for the final co-ordinates below
Final co-ordinates are
N56 06. had
W003 3 (f - g). (b - c) e (j + k)
Final cache is hidden somewhere down Saline Glen - start of path is at N56 06.893 W003 34.363. Suitable footwear required - can get very muddy down here! Please do not try to access the Glen from the churchyard - there is a burn in the way!
Signal was dreadful in the Glen, and accuracy varying widely. Took an average for the final co-ords but it might still be out - to help you a little bit, cache is on the LHS of the path and is very close to the path. Terrain rating reflects the fact that you will need to do a little bit of fancy footwork (couple of steps) in order to reach the cache. In the cache you will find a stamp with flowers on in case you didn’t get any on Valentines Day!
Please replace cache as far back as it will go and cover well before leaving - if not then it is likely to be seen from the path.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Nobhg 3sg bss gur tebhaq