Auchengilloch Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A six-mile round trip over good tracks and rough ground to an important site in Scotland's history.
This is another one in the growing list of Covenanting sites that you didn't even know existed. A decent hike over forestry tracks and then a bit of a scramble over rough ground will take you to a place where up to 500 people gathered just so they could worship in the way they wanted.
There were probably at least two conventicles here in and around 1685. The site was chosen because it is on high ground and so easy to protect with look-outs, but is secluded and can hide a large number of people from view. The preacher stood high at the centre of a natural amphitheatre and could address the congregation without expending too much effort although with the level of conviction and enthusiasm possessed by the Covenanters a bit of effort would not have been much of a problem.
One of the high points of the Covenanting campaign had happened just a couple of miles from here at Drumclog, where in 1679 a small Covenanting army routed a Government force. The victory was short-lived and they suffered a major defeat just a couple of weeks later at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge.
You may want to try and search out the source of the Kype Water while you're here. It flows into the Avon, which in turn is a tributary of the Clyde.
It is thought locally that the name "Auchengilloch" means "The Place of the Little Gills". If the fish are living in the wee burn at the side of the hill they will be very little gills indeed.
Park at Lambhill Farm (N055 38.009, W004 04.338). From here it's mostly good track walking, apart from the last half kilometre or so which can be hard going and very wet. Watch out in the shooting season, as grouse will be falling out of the sky and may hit you. Also, this is a working forest, so watch out for forestry operations (signs will be posted for shooting and forestry work).
You may want to do this along with our first ever cache, Muirkirk. It's possible to walk between them if you are very fit and have a lot of time (and a map and compass). If you know the Muirkirk cache you'll be pleased to know that heather plays an important part in this one too.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Jura lbh svaq gur pnpur lbh'yy ernyvfr jul jr unira'g tvira lbh nal uvag.
Treasures
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