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Fairy Steps Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Team_Betula: Box in poor condition. Don't have time to tend this cache. Much litter being left in the area around the cache and not elsewhere.

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Hidden : 11/16/2008
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Located near the famous Fairy Steps

The terrain is wooded and may affect the GPS coords (although I found holding the GPS above my head helped) but there are plenty of open areas to re-aquire the sats. For safety sake, the cache is placed at the bottom of the cliff.

From Beetham village a path climbs to Beetham fell and leads to the 'Fairy Steps'. The second of two flights of stone steps, where the narrow passage squeezes between two sheer rock faces via a flight of natural stone stairs is so named because of a legend. Supposedly, if you climb or descend the steps without touching the limestone sides of the narrow gully, the fairies will grant your wish.

However only someone whose stature matches that of a fairy stands any chance of accomplishing this impossible feat, as in places the cleft is as narrow as a foot at shoulder height.

Those with second sight are believed to be able to witness the fairy folk skipping up the steps.

The steps are situated on one Lakeland's corpse trails, along which the coffins of those who died in more remote and inaccessible wildernesses of the neighbourhood, would be carried for burial in the nearby churchyard. The idea that pallbearers could manoeuvre a coffin up this cleft is hard to believe.

Several of the iron rings through which ropes were threaded to haul the coffins up the sheer rock face are still visible in this peaceful and idyllic haunt.

Feel free to add a photo to the log of you on the fairy Steps - perhaps a fairy may appear in the background!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Sbyybj gur sbbg bs gur pyvss nobhg 25z A bs gur Snvel Fgrcf. 5z FFJ bs n ynetr Lrj gerr. Ybbx va gur abbxf naq penaavrf. Gel hfvat n ybat fgvpx naq lbhe rnef!

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)