A Red Flash of Poppies
Sorry to disappoint the EF Benson fans, no Mapp & Lucia here as we are too far from Tilling. What we do have are superb views and a modest 3km walk which even Georgie could manage. If that was lost on you, no worries, at least you should know where you are going!
At our start point, count how many unbroken “Y”s support the roof of Shepard’s Cottage, and let that be the value of “A”
Setting off towards Stage 1 “Green Gate”, you should take the right Byway, leaving the blue plaque on your left. Note the bottom two digits on the plaque (below “125” and “SV”) as “B” and “C”.
Please stay on the footpaths through out this trip, without taking any shortcuts! This cache has been established with the consent of the farmer whose fields (and crops) he does not want you to cross.
At the second gate, pause and look to the view behind you as you regain your breath. Note the number of diagonal struts on the gate as the value for “D”.
The views across Salisbury and The Plain improve as you continue towards the next Stage, “Green Gate”. Once you are at the high point, the views to the east to Southampton and on to the South Downs open up too.
Regret when you arrive at “Green Gate”, you will find it missing! The 9th Earl of Radnor has redeployed it, and we have lost a clue. Never mind, admire the view towards Southampton, spot a few container ships, and then turn right toward our next Waypoint.
Alternatively, you could carry straight on and cross the A36 to do GC273C “A Sneezy Folly”, and then rejoin us before continuing to the next Stage, ”Red Top Post”
”Red Top Post” should provide us with our next clue, but it has been virtually destroyed by enthusiastic hedge cutting, so until it is restored – it marks the line of a major gas pipeline – just admire the view and walk on to the tallest structure within 300m.
Here, there appears to be a new stand-by generator in the compound, with an identity number “QIS 3x” Let x be the value of “E”
Finally go to our destination at:-
N51° 01.005 W001° 42.360 .
Find the memorable date set in concrete on the earth bank by with trackway - “195x”, and let x be the value of “F”
Take in the view from the top of the reservoir, you have just passed the steps, before looking for the cache, a 1 litre black plastic click box at :-
N51° 00.(C+D)BE W001° 42.AEF
After finding and signing the cache (please put it back so it can not be seen by the casual muggle), you could head off to do the Barford Down Series and GCD670 “Barford Down”, or return direct to the start point.