Calton Spouts Traditional Cache
Dalesman: The cache owner is not responding to issues with this geocache, so I must regretfully archive it.
Please note that if geocaches are archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance, they are not eligible for unarchival.
[ST]
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Everyone visits Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss, the two most famous waterfalls in Malhamdale, but very few ever see the hidden spectacle of Calton Spouts. Although many will pass through Foss Gill on their way up to, or down from, Weets Top, almost all of them will pass by the waterfalls which tumble over Bowland shale at the head of this ancient, wooded gill without even knowing that they are there!
Here may be seen, among others, Wrens, Redstarts & Greater Spotted Woodpeckers. When hiding this cache we were entertained by a small flock of Long Tailed Tits. In Spring you may also spot clumps of False Oxlip, a naturally occurring occasional hybrid between wild primroses and cowslips. Trees tumble across the gill, making natural bridges for agile animals but impeding the progress of Geocachers!.
There is parking by the green at Airton or, nearer to Foss Gill, in Calton by a field wall. If you are driving, or walking, up the road from Airton to Calton, the very first house on the right [across the corner of the field], is Calton Hall, once the home of General ’Honest’ John Lambert, Oliver Cromwell’s second in command. If walking up from Airton and wishing to avoid the road route, turn left along the Pennine Way after passing the Mill [now apartments]. In the second field, as soon as you cross the clapper bridge, turn right and follow the woods uphill [noting an ancient lime kiln on your right]. Leave this field by turning right though a gate into a short green lane to enter Calton and turn left for Foss Gill. In Foss Gill note Iris’s bridge, made from a single split tree trunk, placed there recently for your convenience. Where you are directed out of Foss Gill by a finger post pointing to “Weets Top 2½ miles“, bear right, instead of going through the gate, and walk on into the magical gill head which ends at the tallest of Calton Spouts.
This cache should prove to be something of a challenge! In the summertime satellite signals are interrupted by leafy trees but, in dry weather, there may be no water flowing, which allows easy access to the cache. In Winter the leaves are gone but usually the stream is full and access is only for those who bring Wellingtons. The stream can be a foot deep even at the shallow crossing places! As we could not get an average reading for the co-ordinates to less than 20 feet, the spoiler may be important!
This cache is one of seven to be visited to gather co-ordinates for ‘A Malhamdale Meander Challenge’ multi cache. Part of the co-ordinates for that cache are fixed to the bottom of this cache and written on the cover of the log book.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Yrsg bs jngresnyy, va n pyrsg va gur ebpx snpr, oruvaq n gerr.
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures