This is our first cache which we hope you enjoy, the cache offers a
pleasant walk alongside the River Avon and Monkton Park using the
Sustrans Cycle track: National Route 4 before finding a
delightful Woodland Trust created wood which was planted in the
year 2000. It’s largely unknown, even to the locals who pass
it every day.
There is plenty of parking for the cache in Riverside Drive (N
51° 27.567' W 002° 06.078') with specifically allocated spaces at
the end of Riverside Drive for another part of the Cycle Path
towards Calne which has a number of GeoCaches placed by
Buddha_Belly.
The GPS may initially point towards the housing estate but
ignore this and follow the cycle path, after a short distance you
may want to take the grass path alongside the River Avon or follow
the cycle path – both end up in the same place so it’s
up to you!
If you want a “cache and dash” without the nice walk
along the river then there is limited parking at N 51° 27.336' W
002° 06.568'
Beware of muggles, especially of the younger variety in the
summer who hang around by the riverside sometimes.
After you’ve completed the cache you might like to walk up
the hill further, turn right and follow the road into Chippenham
through picturesque “St Mary’s Street”.
The majority of the route is perfectly suited to families and
pushchairs, the last bit can be a bit muddy so definitely advise
walking boots and “all terrain” push-chairs.
An Ordnance Survey map for the overall location is available at
this
web site
The cache is a small plastic box with a twist! It has a pencil
and a few small toys and has room for small Travel Bugs and
Geocoins.
Baydons Wood is a small, 1.09 ha WOYD site adjacent to the
river Avon near the centre of Chippenham. This young woodland,
planted in 2000 contains a mixture of broadleaf species,
predominantly oak, ash and field maple, all establishing
well.
Some willow has also been planted in the wetter parts near the
river to supplement the existing mature willow and alder.
These contribute to the river edge habitat (C1), home to frogs,
wrens and other wildlife. To the NE of the site runs the river
Avon, over which lies a golf course, with further open fields to
the SE. Private property surrounds the remainder.