5 A Walk in the Garden-Kelly's Lough Mystery Cache
Hidden : 4/29/2009
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:


9 Awake thee, my Bessy, the morning is fair, 8
The breath of young roses is fresh on the air,
6 The sun has long glanced over mountains and lake 8
Then awake from thy slumbers, my Bessy, awake.
0 Oh, come whilst the flowers are still wet with the dew - 0
I'll gather the fairest, my Bessy, for you;
7 The lark poureth forth his sweet strain for thy sake - 4
Then awake from thy slumbers, my Bessy, awake.
1 The hare from a soft bed of heather hath gone, 3
The coot to the water already hath flown;
There is life on the mountain and joy on the lake
2 - Then awake from thy slumbers, my Bessy, awake. 2
(J.J. Callanan)

Good hike in another lovely part of the Garden County, approx 14K and 720m ascent. You can make quite a circuit out of it but be prepared for some boggy soggy sections which will prove to be well worth the trouble when you see the sights. No dogs for this one I am afraid because sections of this are "agreed access" with local farmers and they call the shots. The parking coordinates are really only to show where you should finish (the red dot on the map) after coming down a beautiful green zig zag path.


To start, you will need to walk about 800 metres on up the road toward the "Glen Splash" cache (marked by the lower of the two large "Ps" on the above map) and enter the forest track across the bridge left of the road at N52 58.553 W006 23.632. You will need to follow this zig zag track up through the forest.
On the way up the zigs zags at N52 58.606 W006 24.215 you must count the bolt heads visible on the top of both sleepers and call this number A!

From there you need to continue upwards on the forest track till you reach N52 58.693 W006 24.568. At this point you have to leave the track and head directly up on a boggy beaten path to exit the forest. Then over a small stile and follow the fence on your right up to the edge of Art's Lough approx N52 58.595 W006 25.192 where you turn left and climb up the "stepped" and steep slope to the shoulder of Clohernagh. From there you need to find Stage 1 which is not at the summit of Clohernagh but in the direction you ascend. The reason for this is to make the final stage more pleasant and easier to walk. The first part of the coordinates are N52 58.(A+4)(A/4) The second part of the coordinates are elsewhere here!
This stage will provide you with the coordinates for the final cache. It is a beautiful walk from there to the cache but try to bear in mind that you should keep to higher ground away from the stream to avoid the boggy bits until you eventually have to cross and walk up the small incline to the lake. Also, while high take careful note of the forest track opposite to guage your easiest route back. After the final cache you have a number of ways back. One is along the winding stream, Carrawaystick Brook, which tumbles down eventually near the road. While this is lovely in dry conditions the banks can be very soggy after rain. Another option is to follow the forest track N52 57.558 W006 25.134 (much easier and quicker) after leaving the lake but you will need to drop down left at a forest break at N52 57.722 W006 23.416 and head for the top of the open (not in forest) zig zag path N52 58.059 W006 23.573 and back down to the car park. I really hope you get to do this on a heavenly day as we did when creating it (see photos).

Please be clearly aware that anyone attempting this cache does so entirely at their own risk and that the cache owner has no liability of any sort and for any reason, accident or mishap.
All the usual mountain gear required. waterproof boots and clothing, maps compass etc.

Please be aware that cars parked in areas close to walking trails are vulnerable and they can be vandalised or stolen. Unfortunately this is an ongoing problem which is extremely difficult to solve. so there is a risk involved. I have heard recently that many hiker groups are parking at the nearest population centres and getting taxis to and from the start points at very little expense.

Please observe the country code to the best of your ability. Local landowners often generously allow access to upland areas across or through parts of their private property. Please, please be conscious of this and return the courtesy by keeping all gates closed, immediately and not on your way back!. Please use the gates where appropriate but if you have to climb over them then use the hinged side ONLY.
Please do not cause any damage of any sort to fences or barriers along the way.


Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art --
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priest-like task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors --
No -- yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever -- or else swoon to death.
(William Shakespeare)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Obggbzf hc!

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)


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