Bowstonegate circular
All caches are placed with kind permission from the National Trust. NONE ARE LOCATED IN DEER SANCTURYS.
The 1,300 acre estate with its medieval herd of red and fallow deer offers fantastic walks and stunning views. Nestling on the edge of the Peak District, Lyme Park was once home to the Legh family and, in its heyday a great sporting estate.
Step back in time to the Edwardian era - Lyme's 'Golden Era'. Enjoy lavish interiors, try out the piano, read a book in the library, or take the children to dress up on the stage. Delicate items restrict the opportunities for photography but the stage in the Long Gallery can be used to take pictures of visitors of all ages in fabulous fancy dress.
For a more tranquil walk explore the Edwardian rose garden, ravine garden or luxurious herbaceous borders next to the reflecting lake where a certain Mr Darcy met Miss Bennett in the BBC production of 'Pride and Prejudice'.
Children can let off steam in Crow Wood Playscape with its giant slide, badger den and rope walks, whilst the nearby Timber Yard Coffee Shop offers delicious hot and cold snacks, soups and range of cakes.
The walk & the caches:
The walk will take you on a short 2.5 mile walk but don't be caught out by the distance. The terrain here is steep and can be uneven and boggy so allow extra time to complete the walk.
For people with small childeren, the 'bottom' section of the walk can easily be separated from the 'top'. Simply follow the wall on the moor side along from #4 until you reach a track and pick up the route again there. (marked in purple on the map)
The caches are a range of different shapes and sizes, some camoflauged and some not.
Note: The route does go over the moor so be prepared.
Route description
From the main car park in Lyme Park head south-westerly up the road until there is a gate on your left by the cattle grid. Follow the path, passing by BGC #1 until you reach another gate. Head through the gate grabbing BGC #2 & BGC #3 on the way. Continue along the path until you leave the wood, finding BGC #4 as you exit. From the wood take the middle track (The Gritstone Trail) heading east across the moor, passing by BGC #5. You will eventually reach a ladder stile by BGC #6. Do not cross the stile unless you want to see the Bowstones located a further 130m up the lane. NOT crossing the stile, follow the path (unmarked on OS maps) in a northerly direction, following the wall, passing BGC #7. Eventually you will come to another stile at the corner of Lantern Wood. Head down the hill, following the path along the edge of the wood on the moor side until you reach BGC #8. Cross the stone stile in the wall, practically opposite the cache, following the path through the wood. Where the path splits, take the right fork over the small fallen tree and through the rhododendrons and carry on until you reach BGC #9. Cross the small stream before heading up the hill on the main path going through the wood. You will eventually see the Lantern on your left, head towards the Lantern, following the path in front of it down the hill. At the bottom of the hill, follow the path right to BGC #10 before backtracking to find BGC #11. Head back to the path where you came down from the Lantern and cross the stile in the fence. Follow the path across the field, joining onto a track. Follow the track passing BGC #12 and the Old Stables. At the bottom of the track, turn left, heading towards the house. Pass by the front of the house before heading down some steep steps back to the car park.
