Big Muddy Puddle
(second version)
This cache was the first one we placed and still perhaps our favourite of the ones we own, but the addtion of a secure barbed-wire fence means access is no longer possible at the original location (N50° 53.923 E0° 38.404).
The cache gets its name from the lake ('Muddy Puddle') in the centre of the copse on the right hand side on the way down from the church to Guestling Woods at the bottom of the hill (if you're approaching from the carpark adjacent to the church).
The small lake always seems to look muddy - not sure why, but it's certainly not somewhere you'd want to go swimming! Unless you're a dog of course :-) This 'puddle' is now closed for canine swimming though.
The cache used to sit deep within a tree root just off the public footpath adjancent to the lake area before the fence was erected, but now the fence now prevents access to tree root.
The cache has been re-located further down hill just inside Guestling Woods as there wasn't a suitable hidey-hole near the orginal location.
Big Muddy Puddle can be included in the 'Guide and Seek' series and is a short stroll north of 'Guide and Seek - The Hole', and is not too far from 'WW2 Icklesham Patrol Underground Hideout'.
The old cache page (kept more or less for 'nostalgic reasons' being our first ever placed) is no longer accurate and is for historical information only. It said...
Big Muddy Puddle! You won't get wet in this puddle, unless it's raining!
A short stroll to a traditional cache taking in some Sussex countryside, visiting a historic church and close to the very popular Guestling Woods.
I assume this is a water storage 'lake' for farmers to use for chemical mixing, irrigation, etc. In the summer it looks simply like a large copse until you peer through the trees to find a largish 'lake' (muddy puddle!) in the centre. The path leading from St. Laurence Church down to Guestling Woods is very popular for dog walkers as there is free parking next to the church, although the car park can be locked at times, especially evening/night - but still easy parking nearby. Guestling Woods are only 5-10 minutes stroll away and are very popular with locals. There are the most wonderful carpeted areas of bluebells in the spring within the area of Guestling Woods. Two other caches are nearby. One in the church car park area (GC1C4EM) and the other a tad further away on the other side of the woods (GC1KA3R). If you have a dog with you that likes swimming, be prepared to take a wet dog home again!
Directions: If driving then park in the car park adjacent to St. Laurence Church. From car park head toward the southern most corner through a gap to a metal kissing gate, just out of sight of the car park. Go through the gate and head immediate left walking along the cemetery boundary, not straight on. (Do not use smaller gate in the centre of the wall leading into the gravestone area.) Follow the very gently downward public footpath leading south east, toward Guestling Woods, follow it around the trees to the right, then head south leaving the path, toward the copse. The cache is situated off the path on the right a little way around trees containing the largish basin of water surrounded by trees (the Big Muddy Puddle!).
What are you looking for? The cache is a clip-lock plastic container. It contains a log book, a pencil and various small goodies. J Please leave the pencil and pencil sharpener - thanks.
You are looking for a clip-lock container, perhaps a little larger than 500ml.
Please try to make sure the cache is suitably 'shoved' back in and as far up as possible and suitably covered with the pieces of rotten bark, avoiding the normal 'stick camouflage' that so often covers many caches - thanks! Sorry to those to whom this may appear to be how to 'suck eggs' :-)
The Woodland Trust kindly gave permission for this cache to be placed in Guestling Woods.