PLEASE NOTE THE TERRAIN RATING (increased in 2019 due to vegetation changes.
This is not for the fainthearted nor those with buggies or small children! Approximately 4km walk and climb through mixed woodland around Birk Crag, with about 180m of ascent depending on which order you collect the clue locations to lead you to a final cache box.
Experienced cache hunters will hopefully find this challenging and average adults and older children will enjoy it depending on their physical condition and fitness. Some of the ground is steep and can be slippery, especially when wet - stout grippy footwear or boots are essential! There are some steep drops in the area so take care at all times and also be aware of walkers, runners, cyclists, horse-riders and dogs that often use the area including the area around the final (so be discreet signing the logsheet when you get there and REPLACE AS FOUND PLEASE). All route options will use some tarmac.
Claro is the orienteering club for Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough and, as a long-time orienteer, I was introduced to geocaching while talking about maps and route finding to a Geocacher at a Claro event. There is an annual orienteering event in these woods as well as a permanent course (map and course details from the Tourist Information Office in town). The club logo is a Clarion horn which appears on the coat of arms of Harrogate and was long ago adopted as Ripon's unofficial coat of arms as the symbol of the hornblowing custom.
Parking for one or two cars is available in off-road spaces near Oak Beck bridge: N53 59.489 W001 34.329, on both sides of the road, or alternatively a space near the Guide hut entrance N53 59.507 W001 34.080 but please don’t block the Guides' drive.
The cache hunt can also be conveniently done by parking at Harlow Carr and visiting the gardens/shop/Café, or park at the pinewoods near to the Harrogate Water bottling plant, taking care by the road.
The cache is NOT at the published location, which is the suggested start point.
You will find the cache container at: N53 58.(K+Y+W)(Y+V)(Y-W) W001 34.Y(V+W)(Y+K) You need to solve the missing digits by visiting 4 other orienteering locations:
Y is at N53 59.413 W001 34.314 Ignore KC 10
V (an original post no longer used) is at N53. 59.374 W001 34.493
An original post with old code "W?" is at N53 59.279 W001 34.626 W="?"
An original post with a later additional labels, K is at N53 59.188 W001 34.820 Ignore MP 69, you want the ? from K?
Under the tree cover, the last digit coords may be debatable but the cache name and the hints will help and you will soon work out what you are looking for.
The cache itself is a small Lock-and-Lock box with Log book and pencil (no sharpener) - room for TBs and swaps!
Keep your eyes open on the walk, while planning, we saw a rich variety of fauna and flora including: Roe deer, Fox, Red kite, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Tree creeper, Nuthatch, Long-tailed tit, Great tit, Blue tit, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Crows, Pigeons, Fungi (various) and good amounts of Wood Sorrel and other wild flowers.
If you enjoy this cache, buy a map and have a go at one of the permanent "O" courses (easy, medium or advanced) or come and try a proper orienteering event. You will find them via www.claro-orienteering.org