Lady Anne's Highway: Hell Gill Traditional Cache
Lady Anne's Highway: Hell Gill
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A cache near "Dick Turpin's Leap".
Hell Gill is the source of the River Eden which flows through Kirkby Stephen, Appleby and Carlisle to the Solway Firth. Legend maintains that Dick Turpin, on one of his many reputed escapades, leapt across this chasm to escape his pursuers. Geocachers are advised to use the bridge, but they might like to look down (from the bridge) into the abyss cut by the infant river. The micro is on the byway, well away from danger, but I have placed the main cache near to the narrowest point upstream where it is very tempting to try to leap across, but this must not be attempted because the slightest slip could be fatal. Only competent scramblers should attempt the main cache and should make their own risk assessment. It is actually fairly easy to access for the sure-footed, either over the low wall on the north-west side of the bridge, or by going upstream to the sheep track into the wood, but the branches are low, and it is tempting to go too near to the abyss where a slip would almost certainly be fatal. The cache can be claimed by signing the micro log, and this is the recommended procedure for most seekers, especially those with young children. The private road up from Aisgill Cottages on the B6259 is the easiest access to the "Highway", and walkers are welcome but vehicles are not (a locked gate prevents access to the "Highway", but an easy stile gives access to walkers and most agile dogs). Horses and strong cyclists can use the bridleway/byeway from The Thrang (GC1Z04T) and Watercut (GC1ZKQR). The full length of the "Highway" from the Thrang past Shaws (GC1ZKN2), High Dyke (GC3RGB7), Yore Ure (GC2N2HG) and View of Moorlands (GC3T2H1) to Cotter End (GC1ZJKV) and Cotterdale Only (GC424F9) provides an interesting and relatively easy high-level walk, but there is a two foot six width restriction at Cotter End, and the former "main road" is restricted to footpath status at the east end to avoid erosion.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
zvpeb: haqre svefg fgrc haqre zbff
znva: haqre n ebpx
Treasures
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