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Tan Castell 13 - Below the Castle 13 Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

Otter 1: Apologies to those who haven't completed the series, but I'm having to close it down.

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Hidden : 2/25/2012
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

One of a series of 13 caches set in Cwm Penantlliw, in the shadow of Castell Carndochan. This cache is a plastic tube, embedded well out of sight.

The coordinates given for this cache do not refer to its location. To find the cache you'll first need to find its partial coordinates inside 4 of the 12 first caches in the series, then enter them into the following......

North. 52deg 51.7AB

West. 003deg 41.9CD

This series involves a walk of approximately 3.75 miles (6km) principally along well surfaced country lanes, although there is a short section around numbers 2 and 4 which is on a rougher track and a narrow footpath connects numbers 8 and 9, briefly leading out onto the A494 at a narrow bend over a bridge. Please take extreme caution here.

Photobucket

Returning to the parking place after number 13

Decayed old men

You'll pass this plaque soon after cache 13...check it out, it tells of decayed old men!

The series is designed to be walked, and takes about 2 and a half hours to complete. Parking is available at the start of the series and coordinates are shown with the listing for Number 1 in the series. Please, please, please do not drive to cache numbers 2 and 3. The track is a public right-of-way on foot, but a private roadway. Whilst much of the walk is on level ground, there are several short inclines, one of which is quite steep, but the caches are placed quite frequently, so you'll get plenty of short breaks. The first twelve caches are traditional caches with a few unusual containers. four of these contain partial coordinates to help to find the 13th cache.

Castell Carndochan is the rocky outcrop at the western end of the valley; it towers over the farmland and over Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) and for this reason it has been a prized location throughout history for defensive structures and as look-out posts. The first major signs of occupation are Roman as the outcrop lies close to a Roman road stretching from the coast, just south of Barmouth, through to Chester. Earlier iron-age workings also exist in the locality, and in mediaeval times an impressive, defensive castle was built at the crown of the hill, possible very similar to the castle at Dolwyddelan. In more recent history,a brigand, by the name of Dochan, was based at the castle, from which he mounted raids on passing merchants and local wealthy folk. In a dramatic turn of events it seems that Dochan accepted an amnesty from the authorities in return for providing an escort to the circuit judges who rode over the mountain roads from Bala to Trawsfynydd to hold local court sessions. A classic example of poacher turned game keeper.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ungf bss gb gubfr jub svaq guvf...cyrnfr hafperj (qba'g chyy)

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)