11 A Walk in the Garden-Black Hill Multi-Cache
Hidden : 3/6/2010
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:


Visit The Geocaching Ireland discussion forum HERE
On emerald glistening hills,
Naught but tinkling streams
And soft bog with purple frills,
And sparkling granite,
Rich with eons of earth life,
Washed and heaven fed,
Where doe, grouse and silent fox
Gentle lay their cubbing bed-
And young men lie dead.


This is another in the walking series in the "Garden of Ireland." There is no puzzle involved and though I used the above quote in another cache page, I felt that sadly it has slightly more relevance here.
The circular walk takes about an hour and a half to two hours on a nice day during which you will be treated to beautiful views over the Blessington lake. The complete circuit is six and a half Kilometres with a total ascent of 342 metres which is low level and easy. A number of "Erratics" (large boulders) left by glaciers during the last Ice Age feature at various stages of this cache so keep an eye out for them.



In order to complete the cache you will need to do the walk as described so that you can pick up the various pieces of information needed to calculate the coordinates for the final cache. For this you may need a pen and a piece of paper.
This can be achieved in many ways but the one I preferred when placing the cache was to take a circular walking route in an anticlockwise direction, taking in the final cache near the end of the hike. The set up of the stages of this cache heavily favours those prepared to do the short hike. Several parts of this trek route can almost be reached by car but there is no advantage as you still would have to walk distances to and from your vehicle that are similar to the hike itself. and also there would be quite a bit of driving back and forth. In this regard PLEASE BE AWARE OF LOCAL OWNERS PRIVATE PROPERTY AND KEEP OFF FARMING LAND.
I have provided coordinates here for Ballynultagh Wood (marked with the large "P" in the map above).
***NOTE: This cache and its neighbour Lugnagun/Sorrel could be done in one trip on a good hiking day, both from this car park. If you choose this option be sure to bring plenty of sustenance as it would be a full day's hiking.
To start the Black Hill circuit, from that car park walk down the road in the direction of the lake. You will notice, looking Southward across at Black Hill which is the further hill on your left, that there is a clear path snaking up the Western (or Lake) side and another coming back down the Eastern side to the car park that you just left. You need to be aiming downward (or South) to get around the privately owned fields and trees in the centre and reach the start of that Western grass path. You may do so by dropping down to the left across open moorland anywhere along the road but do not go any further than N53 08.510 W006 27.314 where there is an old track leading in the direction you wish to go. It helps a little but better to head across before that. From the road you may be able to make out trodden paths across the moorland. There is a small brook to cross and some rough walking but the rest of this land is just bumpy and a bit boggy in parts.
You need to be heading for N53 07.863 W006 27.324 which is the corner of the private land but before that you will need to find Stage 1 and pick up some information before moving on to the green path.
Stage 1
At a nice round Erratic at N53 08.015 W006 27.309 you will find a piece of wood with 3 numbers attached. Call these in ascending order CDE.

Stage 2
Continue around the private land in the direction of the grass path up the mountain. When you reach the start of the path at N53 07.906 W006 27.516 you will reach a reddish brown gate. As you start up the grassy track toward the mountain, after about 50 metres there is a trodden path leading Westward (to the right off the track) toward the lake and roughly in line with the private land boundary. Follow this till you come to Stage 2 at N53 07.966 W006 28.075

Here you will find two dates which will give you an age. Call that age BA.

Stage 3
You need to go back up to access the grass track to the mountain. You may do this by retracing your steps or by cutting across moorland more directly to reach Stage 3
at N53 07.289 W006 27.430

Here you need to answer how many holes are at the top of the stone column on the side WITHOUT the inscription, in other words the side not facing the lake. Call your answer H.

Continue on the track to the summit of Black Hill.
Stage 4
N53 07.317 W006 26.716
Here you will find 2 numbers. Call these (in ascending order) FG.

The final cache coordinates should now take you in the direction of the road and car park.
Final Cache N53 AB.CDE W006 26.FGH


From Mountain Views:
Black Hill Mountain Wicklow County
Height: 602 metres OS 1/50k Mapsheet: 56 for top
Grid Ref: O04137 09033 Latitude: 53.121964 Longitude: -6.445273 ITM: 704063 709064
Black Hill is the 271st highest summit in Ireland.

HAMPDEN BOMBER CRASH (and one reason why the mountain is aptly, if accidentally, named)
When you reach the monument it is worth noting the ages of the men on the bomber flight. Just think about how young they were when sent off to do the dirty work!!
DUBLIN, IRELAND - On the night of 16th April, 1941, "...hour after hour of fire-bombs rained down on London." (Belfast had been bombed the previous night.) Next night a Handley Page Hampden S/N AD730 was detailed to bomb an aiming point at Berlin and was one of seven from No. 50 squadron which took off from its base at Lindholme in Yorkshire.

It was crewed by:
* P/O J. K. Hill, Captain 83253
* Sgt. J. T. Lamb, Navigator 744628
* Sgt. S. Wright, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner 751744
* Sgt. F. H. Erdwin, Air Gunner 553897

It would appear that this crew did not reach Berlin; the the pilot, J.K. Hill was not in a position to identify his target, due to haze over Germany and opted for a secondary one, as he was not in contact with the other planes. The bad weather encountered over the North Sea was already crossing over the Continent, with no improvement over Britain or to the West.
At 02.17 hours, Sgt. S. Wright (Wireless Operator) made contact and was given a second class fix and bearing from Bircham Common. This placed the aircraft approximately five miles SW of RAF Watton.
For some unknown reason the Hampton Bomber continued flying West --- possibly due to a compass malfunction. The bomber crossed the Welsh mountains, which would seem to indicate that it was flying at 4000 feet. Its first movements over Ireland were reported by the look-out posts on the East Coast at 04.05 hours while tracking inland between Dalkey and Bray. The plane was reported flying west towards Kildare. It then changed course, which brought it to an East-Northeast position.
At 04.24 hours, Gardai at Hollywood, County Wicklow, reported an aircraft in the area to Air Defence. According to the Department of Defence, local people reported hearing a plane also. (The crew of the Hampton SD730 who had survived that April night in the German sky were to die only hours later on a lonelly hillside in Kyleberg in neutral Ireland.) Investigators reached the conclusion that the plane crashed ten minutes later, killing the crew instantly.
The instrument panel clocks found in the wreckage recorded the time of the crash as 04.34 hours. The bodies of the victims lay in Blackhill (Kyleberg) until Saturday 19th, when they were found by turf-workers.
It must be remembered that the nearest telephone was in Blessington, nearly six miles away, so it was late in the evening when the Security Forces arrived on the scene. A military guard from the Curragh and an ambulance made their way up the "Hill Road." L.D.F. and Gardai stood on duty. Comdt. Harrington G (2) Branch Curragh Command was also present. Air Corps officers under Comdt. Murphy were standing by.
In his report to the Department of Defence (25/04/41) Comdt. Mackey was lavish in his praise of the work of Superintendent Quinn, Supt. Reynolds and Sgt. Bohan, Blessington. On Monday 21st April, 1941, the Coroner for West Wicklow instructed that no inquest would be held. His report to Comdt. Mackey stated: "The crew received frightful injuries and death was instanteous in each case."
The funerals took place on Tuesday 22nd at St. Mary's Church, Blessington. The coffins, wrapped in the British flag, were carried to the church by soldiers escorted by a guard of honor and preceded by the No. 3 Army Band. It was attended by the British Representative, Sir John Maffey, with Lady Maffey and their daughter, Mrs. Max Aitken. Also present was Mr. Leywood of the British Legation, who had arrived in Blessington on Sunday 20th and visited the scene of the crash.
Irish Army officers attending included Major P. Maher, representing the Minister of Defence, and Comdt. E. Rooney, representing the Chief of Staff.
The service was conducted by Rev. W.R. Crooks and the four bodies were buried in the one grave. The Irish Times of 23rd April, 1941, said, "During the funeral all shops in Blessington were closed and blinds drawn on windows."
In his report to the Chief of Staff, Department of Defence, (25/04/41) Comdt. D.J. Murphy, Air Corps Headquarters, wrote:
"Cause of crash: not known. The aircraft appeared to fly straight into the side of the hill. Parts were scattered over a wide area. The area where the Hampton crashed is about 1600 feet above O.D., rising sharply from around 620 feet."
Ironically, the motto of the 50th Squadron was "Sic fidem servamus" (Thus we keep Faith). For those young airmen there was no glory of D-Day. No honour of being shot down over enemy territory. Kyleberg was their Armageddon.
For them the war was lost -- and won -- on Blackhill.

Do not start the trek without all the proper mountain rain gear, waterproof boots and the guidance material, compass, map, GPSr with mapping etc. Please note that all parts of this cache are hiked at your own risk. The cache owner takes no responsibility of any sort for any reason including accidents or mishaps.


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.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Fznyy obhyqre

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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