Last of the Celtic Kings Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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The cache is located near to the spot "Randy Alec" met his fate (or
as close as I can guess) There is ample free parking at N56 03.750
W003 10.816 When the tide is out, this is a leisurely stroll along
the beach, but be aware that when the tide is in, you will have to
negotiate a loose rocky path, which can be "challenging" in places
if you're not too steady on your feet.
Alexander III lived from 4 September 1241 to 19 March 1286 and was
King of Scotland from 6 July 1249 to 19 March 1286.
He was the only son of Alexander II, and came to the throne on the
death of his father, aged just 8.
He was crowned on 13 July 1249 at Scone Abbey. Alexander's period
of minority rule was marked by conflict between rival Scottish
factions keen to exert power in his name. Meanwhile, Henry III of
England was hovering in the background, hoping to take advantage of
the circumstances. On Christmas Day 1251, aged 10, Alexander III
was knighted by Henry III at York. The following day he married the
English monarch's eldest daughter, Princess Margaret. Despite his
lack of years, Alexander evaded his new father-in-law's efforts to
make him swear homage to the English King for the Kingdom of
Scotland. Meanwhile the rivalry within Scotland for control of
Alexander continued, and included his being kidnapped at one point.
Alexander took control of the crown in his own right on attaining
the age of 21 in 1262. He immediately turned his focus to
completing the project left unfinished by his father Alexander II's
death, regaining the Western Isles from Norwegian control.
Alexander III's challenges to the rule of the Norwegians culminated
with a large fleet of longships under King Håkon IV of Norway and
the Isle of Man sailing into the Firth of Clyde in 1263. Most of
September 1263 was spent in negotiations between Alexander and
Håkon: the latter growing ever more impatient, the former playing
for time and hoping for the onset of bad weather. This duly arrived
in the form of a fierce storm on the night of 30 September 1263
which sank some of Håkon's ships and drove a number of others
ashore at Largs. What has since become know as "The Battle of
Largs" was really no more than a series of largely inconclusive
skirmishes. But although his forces probably still outnumbered the
Scots, in the face of a demoralised and mutinous fleet, Håkon had
little choice but to sail for home. He never reached it, dying in
the Bishop's Palace in Kirkwall, Orkney, en route. With him died
the Norse claim over the Western Isles. Under the Treaty of Perth
in 1266, Håkon's successor ceded the Isle of Man and the Western
Isles to Scotland in return for the payment of 4000 marks (a mark
was an accounting unit roughly equal to two-thirds of an English
pound or one-and-a-half Scottish pounds). Margaret died in 1274 and
their three children, including two sons, had all died by early
1283. Their daughter, also called Margaret, was the wife of King
Eirik II of Norway and died in childbirth. In 1284 the child, who
had survived, and who was also called Margaret (the Maid of
Norway), was recognised by the Scottish Parliament as the heir
presumptive to the Scottish throne. Alexander wanted a male heir,
so he married again. This time it was to Yolande, Comtesse de
Montfort, daughter of Robert IV, Comte de Dreux. They married on 14
October 1285. Five months later, tragedy struck. On 19 March 1286,
King Alexander III, then aged 44, was returning on horseback to be
with Yolande at Kinghorn Castle after meeting his Council in
Edinburgh. It was after dark and the weather was very bad when he
came along the cliff road above Pettycur. It is believed
Alexander's horse stumbled, and pitched him to his death over the
cliffs. Alexander's death brought to an end a rare "golden age" in
Scottish History and resulted in a crisis of succession that led
directly to the Wars of Independence with England. But for his
decision to take that path that night, none of us would ever have
heard of William Wallace, Robert the Bruce or Bannockburn: and
today's Scotland could be an utterly different place. Alexander was
succeeded by Margaret, Maid of Norway. When you are in the area,
you can also see the Alexander III monument on the A921 at N56
03.857 W003 11.991
For those travelling by bus there is an alternative access point
at N56 03.867 W003 12.748 right next to a bus stop (sorry I don't
know bus times)
*PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS AN OPERATIONAL RAILWAY
LINE BETWEEN THE MONUMENT AND THE CACHE SITE ON THE BEACH. DO NOT
CLIMB THE BOUNDARY FENCE*
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ybpngrq nobhg 25 srrg FR sebz gur zbfg rnfgreyl bs gur guerr byq srapr cbfgf va gur ebpxf