Welcome to Flitwick - with a silent 'W'. This is a series of caches designed to increase Flitwick's presence on the caching map. They will be added gradually over the winter of 2010 / 2011. If you wish to chase the FTF you'll have to come here often. Alternatively you may want to wait till all of them (I'm intending for them to be 15 plus a bonus cache) to be in place. Plan your own route around the delights of Flitwick!
Cache #14 has been set to bring you to Flitwick Mount.
Flitwick Mount or Mount Hill is a small motte and bailey work of the figure-of-eight type. A circular moat averaging 30 feet wide and up to 6 feet deep encloses a mound 102 feet in diameter across the top and raised 4 or 5 feet above the general level. There are remains of a strong rampart on the outer scarp of the moat, and traces of a circular bailey to the east. The earthwork was formerly part of a pleasure garden and the mound was modified to take a summerhouse. A ditch, now terminated by quarrying extends to the south-east, and presumably formed part of the south boundary of the eastern bailey.
Sadly, the site is largely hemmed in by residential development and little recognition of the history exists, though at least it is preserved as a public open space (and is good for sledging!). The site is a scheduled ancient monument.
The cache is a black 35mm film cannister containing a log only. Please ensure you bring your own writing instrument.
Don't forget to collect the information needed for the bonus. This is written on the yellow sheet at the front of the log.
Please log any issues / DNF's - as I can check the cache very easily.
Your tour starts at the published coordinates. Guide yourself around the Mount and explore the site until you are ready to do the simple multi cache.
Go to Waypoint 1 at N 51° 59.878 W 000° 30.322. The lampost has a sign on for reporting defective streetlighting (like the one pictured below). What is the number in green? This is A. If the sign is missing (like it is currently) Look at the sticker at the foot of the post. Count the number of letters till you get to the first A. This is also A.
Go to Waypoint 2 at N 51° 59.(A+5)(A)9 W 000° 30.(A-1)(A+1)1. Here you will find a manhole cover in the ground. Included in its ironwork, directly above where it says TROJAN 75, is its size (BCD x EFG).
Go to final location at N 51° 59.(G+8)(C+2)(F+2) W 000° 30.(E-2)(B)(D+4). Here you will find the 35mm canister hidden away.
All Waypoints and the Final Location are outside (albeit only just) the Scheduled Ancient Monument and therefore you could complete the cache without entering the Scheduled Ancient Monument. However, this would be against the spirit of the cache and would involve much more walking!