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Crichope Linn Traditional Geocache

Hidden : 11/26/2006
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Take the road for Cample on the A76, just south of Thornhill. At the village take a left for about 2 kilometers and park at the old quarry entrance, N55 14.487 W003 43.228. Down the road is a signpost for Crichope Linn, follow the path and the little arrow.

This is a supernatural sliver of a glen, believed to be inhabited by water spirits of various temperaments.

Historical Writings...

Crichope Burn, which, rising in a moss near the northern extremity of the parish, forms, not far from it's source, a beautiful cascade, the "Grey Mare's Tale", over a precipice of nearly 100 feet in sheer descent. Half a mile lower down the water has, in the course of ages, hollowed out to itself a narrow passage through a mass of red sandstone, where a peculiarly romantic linn is upwards of 100 feet from top to bottom, and, although 20 feet deep, is yet so straight and narrow at it's head that one might easily jump and clear it, but for the yawning gulf below and the din of the water running in it's dark course.
"Inaccessible in great measure to man, this linn," says the old statistical, "was deemed the habitation of imaginary beings, and at the entrance there was a curious cell, the " Elf's Kirk," which, proving a good freestone quarry, has lately been demolished, and from the haunt of elves has been converted into the abodes for men. In the days of the Covenanters, the religions, flying from their persecutors, found a safe hiding-place in Crichope Linn; and a chair, cut out by nature in the rock, was in later times the resort of a shoemaker, and ever since has borne the name of the "Sutor's Seat." By Sir Walter Scott, in his Old Mortality, this place was chosen for Balfour of Burley's lair.
A natural archway on the footpath along the side of the gorge bears many 18th and 19th century inscriptions, supposedly including one by Robert Burns.
Further up the gorge at the obvious tree-root hand-rail, (N55 14.381 W003 42.418) the Crichope Burn disapears down into the bowels of the earth and nearby in a sort of cave are some well strange and erotic carvings...

The path can be wet and slippery in places but is fairly sound. Those suffering from vertigo should take extra care as the path can be some what exposed in places. Good stout footware or good quality rubber boots should also be worn.
Distance from car to ground zero is just over 1 kilometer and plenty time should be allowed to take in the whole atmosphere of this magical place.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Fnaqfgbarvhz oybpxvhf, haqre Dhrephf Ebohe.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)