Oh
no! Someone has stolen professor Truffles Ivy Density OS Map. This
map has contour lines showing the density of ivy instead of
altitude, without this he cannot place any Geocaches! Can you help
him find it by solving the clues in the Wherigo cartridge with the
same name as this cache. To be able to successfully solve the cache
you will need to be able to find landmarks around the Market Inn
pub, the starting location for the Wherigo. To help you with this,
some information that you may or may not find useful is in this
cache listing.
Before we start, a few tips on playing the
cartridge, as you travel round, you will find items and clues. It
is advisable to pick up anything you see, if you need it later you
will have to walk back to find it. Keep a close eye on your Wherigo
device so you don't miss a clue. Everything you need to solve the
clues are in this cache listing. Once you have solved the crime,
your Wherigo device will guide you to the cache, if you are lucky
it may even give you a clue! My pocketPC has pretty poor GPS, you
will also be given the co-ordinates for the cache, I would
recommend you take a note of these also in case you have the same
problem as me.
The
Park.
To
the South West of the Market Inn is Elsecar Park, you will find
grass swathes, a terraced garden, bandstand and more relaxed wooded
areas. It offers a range of facilities including a café, toilets,
play area, pitch and putt and crazy golf. Its history can be traced
back to the 1920s and subject to a trust arrangement.
In
the early 1930s Elsecar became a popular location for a day out and
visitors from Sheffield would travel by rail to escape the grime of
the city. The area became branded ’Elsecar-by-the sea’
because an artificial beach was created around the banks of the
reservoir.
The Park covers 18.92 hectares
and is divided into two main areas, known as the top park and
bottom park. The top park is adjacent to the reservoir, where
various activities can be found and where galas and funfairs have
been held. The bottom park is principally devoted to flower beds
and contains the bandstand, children's sand pit and picnic
area.
The café is up the hill to the
WNW of the bandstand and provides the best access to the reservoir,
a little further to the west.
The Heritage
Centre
Elsecar Heritage centre is very
close to the Market Inn to the ENE. It comprises various shops,
galleries, art studios and an exhibition hall. The buildings were
originally used for various industries including ironworks and
forges, a distillery, and engineering workshops. These fell into
decline when the coal mines in the village closed.
It also has its own railway
station (called Rockingham Station) on the Elsecar Steam Railway
with a running shed behind the main centre. . The railway's depot
is home to a selection of Steam Locomotives as well as a Diesel
Locomotives.
The centre is also the site of
the only Newcomen beam engine in the world to have remained in its
original location. It was used to pump water out of Elsecar New
Colliery and ran from 1795 until 1923 when is was replaced by
electric pumps. It also ran briefly in 1928 when the electric pumps
were overwhelmed by flooding. At its peak it could draw 600 gallons
a minute. The engine is not currently in working order but there
are plans to restore it back to its original state.
Dogs on a lead are allowed in the
centre grounds, but not the buildings. The railway station is to
the back of the heritage centre, a little further to the ENE. The
beam engine is just over the level crossing and to the left, if you
take a look, the path along side the rail tracks on the left is the
best route to take, not following the road (which becomes a private
drive).
Good luck, hope you
enjoy.
This has been my first
Wherigo cache, it has taken many hours to complete, and has been a
steep learning curve. A big thank you to everyone who offered
help and advice.
FTF honors to Astra-nomical and
Overanout