Alden Ratchers is a remarkable series of ravines cutting into the east side of Scholes Height. This area falls into the National Trust section of Holcombe Moor, and lies well beyond the army firing range. The public footpath below is part of the Rossendale Way and can be reached most easily from Helmshore or Buckden Wood, and there is also a useful old mine track that provide a quick way across the moor to the area of the cache - if you can find it! There are interesting remnants of mining and quarrying activities here, including the ruins of several stone buildings. The views are superb, as is the feeling of wilderness, but it can get very cold and windy.
Alas, in March 1837 the harshness of the terrain claimed the life of a girl called Richmael Smith. She was sent out from Middle Doe Farm in a snow storm to borrow candles from a neighbouring homestead and got lost over Alden Ratchers towards Edgeworth. Her body was found when the weather improved and she was buried in a Tottington churchyard. As you climb up into the wilds it's easy to imagine how such a tragedy could have happened, but it does make you wonder how anyone could have sent the poor girl into a snow storm in these hills.
These moors are home to many species of moorland bird, so please tread carefully when crossing pathless ground to avoid standing on nests. In addition, a signpost on the edge of the moor requests that dogs are kept on a lead.
The cache is a lock-and-lock box with log book, pencil and sharpener and a few bits and bobs. The hiding place is in a niche about 20 feet to the left of an obvious small cave, at the bottom of several low rock terraces. It isn't covered up but you'll have to have your face well up to the rock and then look to your right to see it, tucked in behind a little wall of gritstone! Please reposition the cache carefully in the same spot that you find it.
