Happiness is the Road Multi-Cache

Find the clues to the cache along the flight of six locks at Bank Newton near Gargrave in North Yorkshire.

Note: Cache is NOT at the co-ordinates given, these are for suggested parking

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal originates from a proposal in 1765 to construct a canal from Preston to Leeds to carry woollen goods from Leeds and Bradford and limestone from Skipton. In 1773, the first part to open was the lock-free section from Skipton to Bingley. In 1777, the canal was open between Liverpool, Parbold and Gathurst, near Wigan, and from Leeds to Gargrave, including the branch to Bradford. It was ten years later, in 1791, that work re-started on building the canal west from Gargrave.

The engineering of the canal is very different from other Trans-Pennine canals. Most of the locks are concentrated in groups with long level sections between. Tunnels and cuttings are avoided where possible with the canal following the contours round bends and loops. In some sections the distance between points by canal is twice the shortest distance.

The canal prospered through the nineteenth century and was used for carrying stone, coal and many other goods. The impact of the railway age was not as great as with other canals but the coming of the lorry finally saw commercial traffic on the Leeds and Liverpool dwindling. The Bradford Canal closed in 1922 but commercial traffic continued along the main canal until 1964. Regular work stopped in 1972 when the movement of coal to Wigan Power Station ceased.

Through the later part of the twentieth century, the leisure potential of the canal began to be appreciated and boatyards, marinas and boat hire companies have developed along the canal which is now very popular with boaters, partly for its stunning scenery and partly for the long lock-free sections that are ideal for cruising.

Co-ordinates for the cache can be found by finding various clues along the canal and around the flight of locks at Bank Newton. They do not need to be done in any particular order.

Clue 1: At the foot of the flight of six locks at Bank Newton you'll find the original Lock House bearing the initials of the Leeds Liverpool Canal Company.

Date on Lock House = ABCD

Clue 2: In the nature reserve created around the flight of locks you'll find various information boards.

Date canal opened in Bank Newton = EFGH

Clue 3: Divide the bridge number by the fraction on the stone marker by the wall = IJK

Clue 4: Add the numbers on the stone marker = L

Cache location:

N53 5(C-K+E).B(I+J)(L-A)

W002 0F.(F-D)(G-H)J

if your solution doesn't appear to lie close to the canal path, check your numbers again...