Buttern Hill is on the Northeast fringes of Bodmin Moor about 3 miles from Altarnun. The car park coordinates are next to a ford on Penpont Water, near Bowithick Marsh. It is possible to park on either side of the river without having to take your car through the ford.
Next to the ford are a stone footbridge & an abandoned packhorse bridge. At the end of the 19th century the valley saw extensive mining activity and various sources state that Tin and Wolframite (Tungsten) were mined here. From Mindat there are open cast workings searching for precious metals also and state that Iimenite and Plumbogummite have been found using this process. At the parking area sunken into the ground is granite lined, pit which is either part of the dressing floor for the tungsten works or a WWII Italian prisoner of war camp. Although the site of the camp may be a little further away or have stemmed from prisoners being housed at the nearby farm.
Follow the track up the valley & out onto the open moor at the base of the hill. It is not advisable to drive along the track as it crosses some very boggy ground (wellies are useful!).
At the top of the hill are the remains of several ritual or ceremonial cairns dating from the early Bronze Age (3500 - 4500 years old) & good views west towards Brown Willy.
The cache is a 400ml screw-top jar with a pill-pot inside, hidden a little way below the summit.
ENJOY YOUR WALK!
This cache was placed by Gribbin and was kindly past onto us.