Ottercops Moss Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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The communications masts at Ottercop Moss, on the east side of the
A696 road, south of Otterburn, are a very prominent landmark.
However, it isn’t until one notices the large number of
“pillboxes” around them that we get a clue to the
area’s importance to the defence of Britain during the Second
World War. The two large masts were originally part of the Chain
Home radar air defence system.
The Chain Home was a system developed before the start of the
Second World War for the long range detection of approaching
aircraft using Radio Detection Finding (RDF), later called radar
(RAdio Direction and Ranging). It was capable of determining the
distance and direction of incoming aircraft. It was used in
conjunction with Chain Home Low system which could detect aircraft
flying as low as 500 feet. Radio energy was transmitted from wires
strung between the two 360 feet high metal masts. The receiving
wooden towers were at right angles to each other which, by
balancing the signals, allowed the operators to estimate the
direction and elevation of the incoming aircraft. On the 10 May
1941, it was this station that detected the Messerschmitt Bf 110
carrying Rudolph Hess, Hitler’s Deputy Führer, in his attempt
to negotiate a peace with the UK, as it crossed the Northumberland
coast before it crash landed near Glasgow.
Today the masts at the location are used for telecommunications but
there is still plenty of evidence in the surrounding area of its
wartime use.
I would suggest parking in the north-bound layby at N55 12.092 W002
05.501, walk south along the grass verge for about 150m and cross
the road taking great care as the A696 at this point is a fast road
in both directions. You will see a stile which give you access to a
path to the cache which is very indistinct in places. For cachers
travelling south, there is an alternative parking layby on the
south-bound side at N55 11.841 W002 05.137 but it will involve a
walk back of about quarter of a mile, along the grass verge, to the
access stile. Again, great care needs to be taken walking alongside
this very busy road.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre n pbapergr fyno.