The Thistles Traditional Cache
mica schist: Looks like this one has disappeared and as we are unable to source the unique container it's time to retire this one.
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A quick cache and dash or, if you feel like some fresh air, a circuit on country roads around Bridge of Weir taking you past Barnbeth House, a route which is popular with dog walkers, joggers and cyclists. Cachers with dogs, pushchairs and small children should be aware that although vehicles are infrequent some may be travelling at speed. Boots are also recommended as the road can become muddy, particularly when it passes through the working dairy at High Auchensale Farm. Please bring a pen.
Since 1889 Bridge of Weir has had a long association with golf, hosting 5 clubs during this time. To date however only two have survived, namely Old Course Ranfurly Golf Club and Ranfurly Castle Golf Club. The cache location is situated between one of these surviving courses and the defunct Thistles Golf Club.
In May 1899 Mr Charles Bine-Renshaw MP of Barochan formally opened the Thistle Golf Club. The nine hole course was located at Clevens but in 1904 this land was purchased by Ranfurly Castle Golf Club which resulted in the Thistle Golf Club moving to agricultural land at Auchensale. Here it remained a 9 hole course despite a brief and unsuccessful attempt to extend to 18 holes. Unfortunately the club experienced unsettled times with the onset of the Great War which resulted in its closure in 1914 and didn’t reopen again until 1925. In 1939, with the start of WW2, the club again closed and is reopened in 1948, with a 10-year lease of the land. It is at the end of this lease, in 1958, that the club ceased to exist, and the land at Auchensale returned to its former agricultural use.
The cache is hidden close to where the club house used to stand which is now home to Old Course Ranfurly Golf Club practice ground. There is no need to enter onto the golf course. Please be wary of barbed wire on the nearby fence. If you continue round the Barnbeth loop you will be passing through Auchensale and at some points you may be able to catch a glimpse of the farmlands golfing past.
Parking for two cars at N 55 50.920 W004 35.099
Other caches which can be done as part of the loop
GC15K2W - Barnbeth H2O
GC2MGNE - 16th @ R.C.G.C.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ynetr ebpx
Treasures
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