A Pentland Walk Multi-Cache

This cache is temporarily unavailable.

Professor Xavier: Hi

One of my roles as a reviewer is to monitor my region for caches that have been disabled for a long time, have had a reasonable number of DNFs or appear to require some maintenance. This is done through running a query on a database of all the caches in my region that looks for such things or by cachers submitting Needs Archiving logs as it appears maintenance may not be being carried out by the CO.

It would appear that this cache may benefit from some attention by the CO. May I ask that the owner checks the cache and sort out any problems with it or gives an indication of when it may be up and running again for people to find. If this cannot be done or if the CO no longer wishes to maintain the cache then the listing should be archived.

Of course if the CO has visited the cache recently then please post an Owner Maintenance log indicating that they have done so, enable the listing, and all should be fine.

In the future, if a listing is going to be disabled for a long time then posting periodic notes to the page (once per month or so) keeps people up to date with what is happening.

This isn't a requirement to fix the cache immediately but if it's unlikely to be done within 30 days could the CO post a note to the cache page giving an indication of when the maintenance will be done, or an indication of why it cannot be carried out.

By all means send a mail to me through my profile, quoting the cache name and GC code, but please also post a note to the cache page. Emails to me may be missed or go astray and it would be a shame to archive the listing due to missing correspondence.

Guidelines: "You are responsible for occasional visits to your cache to maintain proper working order, especially when someone reports a problem with the cache (missing, damaged, wet, etc.). You may temporarily disable your cache to let others know not to search for it until you have a chance to fix the problem. This feature is to allow you a reasonable amount of time - normally a few weeks - in which to check on your cache. If a cache is not being maintained, or has been temporarily disabled for an unreasonable length of time, we may archive the listing."

Sadly if there is no response to this log after 30 days I may have to archive the cache.

Please note that the guidelines say that if a cache is archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ staff for lack of maintenance then it will not be unarchived - Unarchiving a Geocache

Regards

Ed
Professor Xavier - Volunteer UK Reviewer
www.geocaching.com
UK Geocaching Policies Wiki
Geocaching Help Center

More
Hidden : 3/30/2008
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

This route is one that I have walked many times. It is just under 11Kms in distance. With a starting height of 250m and the highest point is just less than 400m. A normal time to easy walk the route is about 4½ hours, which includes breaks. The climbs are gentle, and it is mostly by a well trodden path.

This walk will take you passed a number of other caches, (7-9), but to find them all will add time to this route. My view, walking boots are necessary there are a few shallow muddy areas. Take a change of shoes for the journey back in the car and some plastic bags to put the boots in.

Parking :
The walk starts at the parking area at Harlaw which is outside Currie/Balerno. This area is popular for walkers and it can be busy with cars. Late comers have to parked down the side of the lane to the main parking area. The above co-ords are for the Car Park.

For Information :
There is a Harvey (waterproof) map for the Pentlands Hills a 1:25000 scale) it is not necessary for this walk but this route is identified on the map.

The Walk :
From the Car Park head towards the Pentlands and turn right down the tarmac road. Go passed the Harlaw Wildlife Centre to the Ranger Station (which has toilets facilities).
For here, walk down the path which is to the left of the Harlaw reservoir. The path is signposted Woodland walk, and you may see some blue squirrels. Keep the wall on your left and continue down the path cross a stream then follow the path right.
Head for the signpost at the wall, note the wall has a stone stile inbuilt. Follow the signpost to ‘Black Springs’ heading South East. This section can be muddy, and the path vague. Look for a new metal gate. Now follow the path up over this hill (height approx 300m) this is a good warm up. Down the hill on the other side has a good view of the Black Hill – see photo.
The Black Hill (Sept 2007)

There is also a cache nearby (GC1QGR9) - first of a few on this walk.

Care is required at the final bottom stretch, it can be muddy & slippy. Follow the path along the Threipmuir overflow and cross the causeway. Take the well beaten route to the right of the building. Now follow the path contouring the Black Hill ( GCTQ8E is nearby) heading South-West, this path gives opening views North. This path slowly rises to 380m and there is normally one large muddy area to navigate.

Waypoint 1.

Find a half monoblock paver with the numbers AB on it. Record these numbers. I normally take a rest at this area, have a drink and enjoy the view. Time taken to this point approx 1hr 20mins. Looking NNW you will see Edinburgh Airport and slightly further the road and rail bridges across the Firth of Forth.

Looking down to the West from the break location (Mar 2008)

Slightly farther on the path splits with 2 ways down, the path on the left is narrow. The suggested path is down to the right following the wall. It is wide but has some loose stones ( GC2BD4 is nearby). Once on the valley bottom - Green Cleugh – turn left. (You could take the path to the right which would take you towards Bavelaw Castle, but you would miss out on the cache.)

Turn left heading South East, and you will at a small hillock meet up with the narrow ‘left’ path coming down from the Black Hill.

Green Cleugh (Mar 2008)

Continue down the valley, at a rise in the path look for a path up to the right. If you reach the waterfall on your right you have missed the path ( but GCRXD3 is near this area). It is not an obvious well trodden path and may look like just a break in the ferns. Follow this path up - heading South.

A square of trees (Sept 2007)

Near the top of this climb you start to get some nice views of the Pentland hills.

Waypoint 2.

At the top of this rise, the path turns a sharp right WNW up hill, then further on, changes to a SW direction. Its at this point you are looking for a monoblock paver with numbers CD on it.

This path now contours Hare Hill and runs parallel to Logan burn on the left. The path climbs slowly and on this stretch it will uneventfully reach the highest path of the walk approx 400m. ( GC1AV5P is nearby but slightly off route). Eventually this path will join the main Balerno - Kip path. There is a depression on the right just below the wall. This keeps you out of the wind and I normally have another break here, (2hr 40mins), and the cache is nearby.

The Cache is at N 55 50.2AB W 3 19.8CD.

The cache size is 20cm x 13.5cm x 10cm so it should not be hard to find, but please disturb as little as possible when accessing the cache.

The ‘climbing’ is now finished and it is now mainly downhill. Head N thru the gate and follow the signposts to Balerno. There is one muddy bit crossing a small stream otherwise it is a well trodden path. ( GC1R3BZ is nearby). Near the trees go through the gate and turn right, onto the road. Continue to follow the signposts to Balerno, ( GC1R3CZ is nearby) down the steep hill, and over the bridge that splits Threipmuir Reservoir. Keep to the road until you reach the notice board on you right.

Bavelaw (March 2008)

Notice the signpost to Harlaw. ( GC10K73 is nearby but slightly off route). Follow the path through the trees ENE to come out on a corner near the Red Moss Car Park. Continue ENE towards Threipmuir Reservoir, this wide road has big pot holes. Go straight through the first gate, at the next fence take the path right, then follow the path and along the reservoir. The path is now all flat ( GCGWJ5 is nearby)

Follow the path right don’t walk down the bywash keep left, then turn left to follow the stream. It is now Harlaw Reservoir that is on you right. Keep following the path over the water split bridge towards and passed the Ranger Centre. The Centre normally has leaflets and basic maps of the Pentlands on the outside but have a visit inside the Centre.

The Ranger Centre is open Weekdays 11:00 – 15:30, and Weekends 11:00 – 15:00

Now it is a simple 300m back to the car, and I hope you enjoyed the walk.

A bookmark 'Caches along the 'A Pentland Walk' cache.' has been created with a list of all nearby caches on this walk. Cache listing updated 15th May 2009

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

JC1) Ba gur tebhaq va gur svryq, 1z sebz jnyy, arne ovt fgbar. JC2) Oruvaq Ybarfbzr Ebpx

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


Advertising with Us

Inventory

There are no Trackables in this cache.

View past Trackables

What are Trackable Items?

Bookmark Lists

View all bookmark lists...