GC1Z1CG CAPPED FOR SCOTLAND (Traditional Cache) in Southern Scotland, United Kingdom created by aljomorton

This cache has been archived.

The Aljos: Time to go

GC1Z1CG ▼

A cache by aljomorton Message this owner

Hidden : 9/23/2009

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This is the first of a series of caches that have been created for the purpose of introducing geocachers to the rich history, the extensive path network and the general scenic beauty of the Irvine Valley.

Car Parking is available at N55.36.849 W004.12.231
This large car park is situated to the east of Loudoun Hill and about half a mile along an unclassified road that leads to Drumboy Farm. Turn off the A71 and head north at the signpost for ‘The Spirit of Scotland’ sculpture.

The cache is located below Loudoun Hill on a ridge that runs to the south west.
Between the ridge and Loudoun Hill runs the River Irvine and it is only a short distance from here to its source.
There is a sculpture close to the car park called ‘The Spirit of Scotland’ which commemorates the life and deeds of Scotland’s greatest patriot and martyr, Sir William Wallace.
In 1297, Wallace had been made aware that an English baggage train carrying stolen treasures from Scottish abbeys, kirks and castles would be passing below Loudoun Hill heading for Lanark. The baggage train was escorted by two hundred English soldiers, both foot and mounted, and led by none other than the knight Sir John Fenwick, who six years earlier had murdered Wallace’s father Sir Malcolm Wallace at this very same location. Wallace and his small group of fifty followers successfully ambushed the English and in a one-to-one fight Wallace killed Fenwick thus avenging his father’s death. The rest of the English escort was routed and the stolen property was recovered.
Below the eastern side of the ridge lies another battlefield where in 1307 Robert the Bruce defeated a vastly superior English force led by Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl of Pembroke. Bruce had prepared well for this encounter. His strategy was to take up a secure position flanked by two large marsh areas and behind several deep angled ditches that he'd had dug with the purpose of funneling the expected English cavalry charge into a very narrow front. This tactic allowed very few of the English to come in contact with the Scots but it did let a lot of Scots come in contact with the English. It proved to be a brilliant plan as first the English cavalry was slaughtered and then its foot soldiers received a similar treatment. Bruce’s victory at Loudoun Hill was to be the first of several during Scotland’s ‘Wars of Independence’.
From the car park head for the kissing gate next to the large metal gate and follow the well defined trail along the left side of the ridge. A few years ago the ridge was planted out as a deciduous woodland with a variety of indigenous trees. The flat fields below and to the left are where Bruce defeated the English. Further ahead, on the other side of the A71, are the large rusting remains of a local sand quarrying industry. There is a large pond below on the left that was used in connection with the production of high quality building sand. This pond area has now become a nesting site for gulls and oystercatchers. At one time there was an island in the middle that provided protection for ground nesting birds from predation by cats, foxes and badgers. For several years now the vertical rock face of Loudoun Hill has been home to nesting ravens and peregrines so don’t be surprised to come across twitchers if you are visiting this area in the springtime or early summer.
The cache contains a log, a pencil and a sharpener and has only limited space for geocoins and TBs without attachments.

Please reassemble correctly before replacing.

Additional Hints ()

Arne Nyahf Tyhgvabfn naq orarngu Plgvfhf Fpbcnevhf

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)