Edinburgh has a long history, and holds many ancient buildings that have stood witness to the blood and grime of their times. Indeed, there are geocaches which will transport you there in place and time.
However, this is also a modern city and new construction occasionally happens. In keeping with its heritage, and with an eye to the festivals and tourism, all works are done discreetly and out-of-the-way, never impacting upon our guests and visitors. Springing quietly into life, these public and private works invariably delight the eye, whilst leaving small avenues of delight for the discerning traveller to pop through, quickly moving you along from one haven to the next.
This cache explores the new West End of Edinburgh, visiting every oasis in turn. The walk should take about fifteen minutes. (You will need to collect small numbers as you go. During the middle stretch, GPS reception may be a touch erratic.)
From where the cache begins, an equine sculpture should be visible. Stop sniggering - it says 'Horse' on the side! Count the letters on the second line of the plaque, halve it, and call it A.
Head south from here, and continue around to N 55 56.794 W 3 12.565, a lively happening spot where European cafe culture is well rooted. If you arrive after 10pm, you will need sharp elbows to get through the crowds (any earlier and you'll need a sharp imagination). There's a balcony to the west for a view of one of the city's original electricity generating stations. It's becoming student accommodation - so "they can power the Nation's tomorrows". Stop sniggering! That's what it says on the planning application! Anyways, the unobtrusive sign about the Square's opening - Q1 of July,2001 and C=2*Q.
(Sign has been muggled and replaced with a planter! Until it gets fixed, Q is the number of trees in (very) close proximity. The location is still accessible despite works nearby. You might need to backtrack a little to continue onwards, however.)
Heading south again, cross the road, and head past the restaurant and nursery, through towards the gardens at N55 56.676 W3 12.504. Lochrin Square is a pleasant place to pause and admire the city's fine new architecture. It won "BEST SPECULATIVE BUILDING OUTSIDE CENTRAL LONDON, 2008". Who could argue with that? Of the coloured panels in the wall opposite, there are D more red panels than yellow. (Make sure you count them all!)
A short step away to N55 56.663 W3 12.447 should get you to a commemorative metal floor tile. For local cachers, it'll be like deja vu all over again. For visitors to this town, this guy is our most famous scientist - there's not many from the nineteenth century were working on interweb fibres! He first had his first chance interview with the wave in August WXYZ, and B=X+Y-W-Z
South again to N55 56.635 W3 12.427, another floor tile and an archway. These arches used to be further along the street to the east, but were re-erected here after the building works. (Didn't there used to be stables behind here?!) You might find it easier to cross the road for this. Date atop the arch? 18FE
Now head on west, (taking a left just after the bus stop) towards the Falkirk Road, probably Edinburgh's best new back street which can take you directly to Scotland's other cultural and thriving industrial centre. They've even erected a memorial to their greatest invention - the wheel!
The cache is located near a curious bridge, at N 55 56.ABC W 3 12.DEF. Bring a pen(cil).
(First To Find: the Jack Aubrey and Firth of Forth super-duo.)