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"Sure that star can twinkle. And you're watching it do. Boy so hard, boy so hard. But I know a girl twice as hard. And I'm sure, said I'm sure she's watching it too. I know she's watching that star. Gonna twinkle" - Tori Amos.
Belleisle Estate is one of the most popular family attractions within South Ayrshire.
The Estate has at its heart a beautiful 18th century house now used as an hotel. It is set within a typical Estate landscape of woods, which give it a tranquil setting. It also has a well laid out walled garden. This is where you need to go first, within the opening times specified.
Belleisle is synonomous with golf with its 18-hole golf course designed by Mr. James Braid who is known for his work at Gleneagles.
Belleisle has a more varied and turbulent history in comparison to its near neighbour Rozelle. At the sale of the Barony lands in 1754 Dr. Alexander Campbell of Ayr purchased Belleisle mansion house and the lands attached, which were known as Netherton of Alloway at that time.
Around 1765 the property fell to Campbell's brother, Archibald who was a writer in Edinburgh, and in turn he was succeeded in 1775 by John Campbell of Wellwood (nephew). At his death Hugh Hamilton of Pinmore purchased the property.
Hamilton extended the estate by purchasing surrounding property and he also built part of the mansion that we see today. It was at this time that it became known as Belleisle. His nephew Colonel Alexander West Hamilton inherited the estate. Colonel Hamilton had the former mansion almost entirely rebuilt and enlarged to form what we see today. In 1839 the estate fell to his son Hugh Hamilton who was in his minority and was later purchased by William Smith Dixon of Motherwell. In 1886 the estate was sold once again the new owners being the Coats family.
In 1926 Ayr Burgh Council purchased Belleisle for the sum of £25,000. This led to questions being raised in the House of Commons.
Belleisle Estate has both wild and domesticated animals. The wild life that you may expect is dependent on time of year and time of day of your visit. This may include Kingfishers, Sparrow Hawks, Owls and a range of garden birds. Animals would include Hedgehogs, Foxes and Squirrels. Cats hang out round the house too.
The cache was placed as this is a beautiful place to come for a walk. As you can see from Google Maps the coordinates take you to the gardens. These are not 24/7 and the plaque outside reads: Open from 8.00am, or dawn, whichever is the later, and closed at 8.00pm, or dusk, whichever is the earlier, on every day of the year including holidays (see pictures). The final cache however, is accessible 24/7 as it is not in the gardens. The final cache is a small clippable sandwich box.
This puzzle cache has a few easy questions to answer to determine the final coordinates. Once sorted, head to the main house (Belleisle House) and it's a short walk from there. Shouldn't take too long!
I should point out that the final cache is small and so doesn't have a pen, and is using a post-it notebook. Also it is in an area of woodland, so coordinates may be a bit out.
Original contents are: Notebook, Geocaching Information Sheet, Picture of Tori, a snake bookmark, a koala pencil top, a monkey eraser pencil top, a mouse eraser and a FTF Prize (First to Find keeps this) - which is a lovely ceramic Highland Cow. Please do not remove the picture or notebook.
Beware of lots of muggles close-by when finding the final part of the cache. Also, please do not post any photos of the obelisk.
Congratulations go to fireman sam for being FTF!!!
---------------------------------CLUES---------------------------------
First go to the sundial in the centre of the gardens. From here look for Cleopatra's Needle.
This obelisk has four faces. The main face you see from the sundial faces SE and shows Sunday. There is information on each of the sides. SE (Sunday), SW (Monday and Tuesday), NW (Wednesday and Thursday), and NE (Friday and Saturday). Treat each number as a single digit. e.g. If it reads 2.11.4 and you are asked to add together the first, second and the third number it would be 2 + 1 + 1, and not 2 + 11 + 4.
A = The first number on Sunday
B = The third plus the fourth number on Sunday
C = The fourth plus the fifth number on Monday
D = The first plus the second number on Monday
E = The sixth number on Tuesday
F = The second plus the third number on Wednesday
G = The third plus the fourth plus the fifth number on Wednesday
H = The first plus the second plus the third plus the fourth number on Thursday
I = The first plus the second plus the third number on Friday
J = The third number on Saturday
N 55° AB.CDE
W 004° FG.HIJ
Good luck, and enjoy!!!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Fgntr 1: Sebz gur fhaqvny ng gur yvfgrq pbbeqvangrf ybbx sbe Pyrbcngen'f Arrqyr. Vg pbagnvaf nyy gur nafjref. Gura urnq gb Oryyrvfyr Ubhfr, vg'f n fubeg jnyx gb gur pnpur fvgr sebz gurer. Fgntr 2: Nypbir va gur ebbgf bs n ynetr gerr. Cyrnfr pnzbhsyntr ntnva bapr qbar! Purref thlf!