The coordinates in the cache listing are those of STAGE 1. (Car Park coords are N 54° 48.332 W 006° 48.945, also listed below as an additional waypoint.)
THE CACHE
The cache is a small tablock box placed inside a cammo bag.
It contains a log and pencil and a few small swaps(not the pencil)
The tree cover may, more likely will, upset your GPSr, so bear that in mind. Please conceal the cache as you found it and close the gate!
This area is popular, especially during afternoons, evenings and weekends, for walkers, dog owners and joggers.
At Stage 1 (coords N 54° 48.359 W 006° 49.020) you will decipher the coordinates for Stage 2.
Stage 2 coordinates are N 54 48.ABC W 006 48.DEF.
ALSO at Stage 1 you will need to find a number for ‘G’, a single digit, which is the missing digit of a set of incomplete coordinates for the final cache, which are to be found in a cammo'd cylindrical micro at Stage 2.
ALL INFORMATION IS SUPPLIED FROM THE BACK
A = the class number on the Maghera Primary tile.
B = number of red circles on DM's tile, plus one.
C = the class number on the St. Mary's P. S. Draperstown tile.
D = total letters in the man’s name who gets thanks.
E = number of tiles with images of bicycles.
F = number of circles on PB's tile, times two.
G = the last digit of the year mentioned under June.
Checksum; A + B + C + D + E + F = 39
Head now for Stage 2, remember to take ‘G’ along too! ‘G’, the missing digit of the incomplete coordinates for the final cache, which are to be found in a cammo'd cylindrical micro at Stage 2.
At Stage 2, please take note of, or enter the Final Stage coordinates into your GPSr and then replace the laminate back in the micro and re-hide.
After you have found the cache, get back to the main path and turn left, if you follow the path past the summer seat on the right, this will take you back to the carpark.
THE HISTORY BIT
Judge Robert Torrens (1776-1856) bought the townland of Derrynoid in 1806 and built a thatched cottage there in 1809, the same year he married his second cousin Anne Torrens. Derrynoid Cottage later became known as “The Big House”. It was situated on the Dungiven road about 1½ miles from the Cross, later in 1818, named Draperstown. It had a thatched roof to begin with but the building was enlarged seven years later with the addition of a slated roof and then called Derrynoid Lodge. It was last occupied in the late 1930’s and in 1952 it was badly damaged in a fire and was later totally demolished.
When Judge Torrens acquired the estate it was practically all a wasteland bog. He spent vast sums of money putting roads through the grounds, and converting it into good agricultural land. He also had a lot of rare plants imported from as far afield as India, and evidence of these can still be seen around the site of the former lodge.
In 1995, with funding from the Department of Agriculture, International Fund for Ireland and the European Union, the Land Steward’s House and other servants’ quarters were refurbished to form what is an impressive sandstone frontage to The Rural College and Derrynoid Centre.
The Rural College and Derrynoid Centre provided education and training services in rural and community development to individuals and organisations throughout Northern Ireland and the border counties. It also had a 100 seated lecture theatre, conference facilities, accommodation and houses a restaurant. A large orchard and kitchen garden, which was totally enclosed by an 8 foot high brick wall with iron gates, has now become the site of the self contained bedroom accommodation blocks.
Since April 2012 The Rural College and Derrynoid Centre has closed down, a victim of reduced funding and revenue during the recession. It is a severe loss to the local and surrounding areas.
‘Judge Robert Torrens, 1776-1856, owner of the land and buildings’