The John Buchan Trail - "The Thirty-Nine Steps" Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Original A1: Really sad to archive this, the jewel in my John Buchan caches crown, and the book which inspired me to set the others. But I've relocated it once and the cache really does seem to have gone the journey. Thank you to all who have visited it in its two incarnations, but it's time now to say farewell to this one.

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Hidden : 10/2/2010
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

A cache and dash with fine views of Tweedsmuir.

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"I looked back, but there was nothing in the landscape. The sun glinted on the metals of the line and the wet stones in the stream, and you could not have found a more peaceful sight in the world. Nevertheless I started to run. Crouching low in the runnels of the bog, I ran till the sweat blinded my eyes. The mood did not leave me till I had reached the rim of mountain and flung myself panting on a ridge high above the young waters of the brown river.

From my vantage-ground I could scan the whole moor right away to the railway line and to the south of it where green fields took the place of heather. I have eyes like a hawk, but I could see nothing moving in the whole countryside. Then I looked east beyond the ridge and saw a new kind of landscape—shallow green valleys with plentiful fir plantations and the faint lines of dust which spoke of highroads. Last of all I looked into the blue May sky, and there I saw that which set my pulses racing ...

Low down in the south a monoplane was climbing into the heavens. I was as certain as if I had been told that that aeroplane was looking for me, and that it did not belong to the police. For an hour or two I watched it from a pit of heather. It flew low along the hill-tops, and then in narrow circles over the valley up which I had come' Then it seemed to change its mind, rose to a great height, and flew away back to the south.

I did not like this espionage from the air, and I began to think less well of the countryside I had chosen for a refuge. These heather hills were no sort of cover if my enemies were in the sky, and I must find a different kind of sanctuary. I looked with more satisfaction to the green country beyond the ridge, for there I should find woods and stone houses. "

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John Buchan was born in 1875 in Perth, the eldest of five children, whose father was a minister. The family moved to Pathhead, Fife, where the other four were born. Although they then moved to Glasgow where he first attended Hutcheson's Grammar School, then to Glasgow University and Brasenose College Oxford, he spent plenty of time down with his grandparents at Broughton in the Scottish Borders, around which this series of caches is based.

Following his studies in Classics, he firstly worked on the "Spectator" magazine, whilst reading for the Bar, to which he was called in 1901. He then moved to South Africa to work in government and diplomacy until 1903, which introduced him to the country which would influence the first in the series, "Prester John" (1910). He returned to work on the "Spectator" and the Bar, and married Susan Grosvenor in 1907, from which they had four children. It was at this time he became a director of the Edinburgh publishing house Thomas Nelson & Son, having befriended Thomas Nelson, a descendant of the founder, at Oxford.

From around this time, he ventured into politics, becoming in 1911 the Unionist candidate for Peebles and Selkirk, and on the outbreak of the First World War, worked firstly on the staff of "The Times" on the western front, and then in intelligence. It was between 1915-1919 that he wrote four of the five "Hannay" novels which form part of this series of caches.

Following the War, Buchan turned more towards his writing, producing both novels and historical novels, and combined this with a directorship of Reuters. He and his family moved to Elsfield Manor, Oxfordshire, but he retained strong links with Scotland, combining amongst his titles "M.P. for the Combined Scottish Universities" and "President of the Scottish Historical Society". In 1932, he was appointed to the Order of St Michael and St George and in 1933/4, he was the High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Following this, he was created Baron Tweedsmuir of Elsfield in 1935, and in the same year, Governor-General of Canada, the office of which he held until his death in Montreal on 6th February 1940 following a stroke.

Although his ashes are buried at Elsfield, there is a section in the John Buchan Centre in Broughton which reflects the impact of his time in South Africa and the desire expressed earlier in his life that his remains should be buried there. This seems to have been overlooked at the time of his death, but a memorial by way of a plaque affixed to a monolith has been dedicated to him overlooking the Ebenezer Dam in the Magoebaskloof region in South Africa, the area in which he was inspired to write "Prester John".

Richard Hannay is now our hero, and in this most famous of all the Buchan novels, he makes his first appearance. "The Thirty-Nine Steps" was written in 1915 and has been in print ever since. Three versions were shot as movies, most famously by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935, although arguably the favourite was the 1978 version featuring Robert Powell and John Mills. There are talks about a fourth version being made in 2010/11. Like the others, it is well worth reading, if you have not already done so (or again, if you have!).

This has had to be moved and is now close to the War Memorial, but across the road. Parking is available at the War Memorial. Please be VERY careful about crossing the road. Although the speed limit here is 30mph, it is a very busy trunk road and many drivers do not obey the speed limit.

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"The John Buchan Story" (visit link) has now moved to Peebles and the opening details are as follows:

Easter Weekend (from Good Friday) until the end of October, Monday to Saturday.

Times:

10.00 am to 4.30 pm.

Admission:

Adults: £2
Children: free
John Buchan Society Members: free

Outwith these times, we are happy to open the Museum for groups (up to 30 people).

Winter Season

We especially welcome groups in the winter months and can customise your visit to your particular interests.

Easter Weekend - Friday to Monday inclusive, and from 1st May to mid-October daily between 2-5pm: Adults £2, Children 50p. It can be opened at other times and available for large groups by arrangement.

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* * * FTF: THESEARCHDOG * * *

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Tb gb gur fvtacbfg naq fgneg pbhagvat nybat gur genvy.

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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