Scotland the Quest, a countrywide cache hunt where you have a special cache in each region of Scotland. 28 cachers have come together to place 32 caches around Scotland to create this series. You should also make a note of the N and W numbers written in the logbook if you intend to complete the quest and find the bonus cache. Good Luck!
Corstorphine Hill has been chosen to represent Edinburgh due to its multi-layered ties to the area's past.
It is a low ridge-shaped hill rising above the western suburbs of Edinburgh. The hill, which is composed largely of dolerite, was formed by the west-to-east movement of glaciers during the Pleistocene period. Most of the hill is occupied by a local nature reserve, consisting of extensive broadleaf native woodland. There is evidence of prehistoric settlements. Among its interesting features are a 19th century tower, a walled garden and a Cold War bunker. These days, the hill is popular with walkers, dog-walkers and joggers.
The cache is hidden near many points of interest (including some beautiful and not-so-lovely buildings). We'll concentrate on one of the beautiful structures here.
Corstorphine Hill Tower (also known as Clermiston Tower or the Scott Tower) is situated close to the hill's summit. It was built in 1871 by William Macfie of Clermiston to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Sir Walter Scott. It was gifted to the city in 1932 to mark the centenary of Scott's death. It is a five-storey high tower, on a square plan, with castellations at its top.
The tower, built on glaciated dolerite, is square in plan, with buttressed corners; it has a corbelled, battlemented parapet surmounted by a small tower. It is built of coursed whinstone, likely to be from quarries on the hill, with dressed sandstone for the openings, parapets and plaques, probably from one of the large Edinburgh sandstone quarries.
The Tower saw another milestone in its history, the 70th anniversary of its official handing over to the then 'Edinburgh Corporation'. The Tower was repaired and opened to the general public after agreement with the owners of the land around the Tower that they would give ground for access, free, provided the Corporation would erect an iron fence to separate it from their property.
Another repair and re-opening was required in 2003. This time, it was after vandals damaged the Tower in April 2002. It was carefully restored, at an approximate cost of £5,000. The doors were opened to visitors again, but only on special days.
If you wish to see inside, then please research opening days before going for a visit.
Whether you go inside the tower or not, when you visit the geocache, please remember to take a note of the bonus numbers for Scotland The Quest - Bonus GC4PT3M.
Happy questing!
Congratulations to rickyp194 on your FTF!