Zeus's Cache Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Cache situated within the grounds of Scrabo Country Park (part of the Ulster Way). Located approximately a 10 – 15 minute (uphill) walk from the Old Belfast Road entrance to the park.
The well known landmark of Scrabo Tower is situated within the country park and can be seen from far and wide. There are several other caches in the park and the description of same details in more depth the history surrounding the tower.
This cache is situated approximately a 10 – 15 minute (uphill) walk from the Old Belfast Road entrance to the park.
This cache however is more linked to the now redundant quarrying industry / railway that once thrived in this area. The stone that was quarried from here is called Scrabo Sandstone and it was excavated from here since Anglo Norman times around 800 years ago. The boom period for Scrabo Stone was the 19th Century when Robert Corry, the son of a successful timber merchant recognised the commercial potential of the quarry and leased part of the hill from the Marquis of Londonderry in 1826.
The opening of the Newtownards section of the Belfast and County Down Railway in 1850 further promoted the widespread use of the stone for railway stations and bridges throughout Northern Ireland. Many of these were designed by local architect Charles Lanyon who was a prolific user of Scrabo Stone for bridges, buildings and monuments. Now it’s only available from old buildings. Several famous local buildings were built using Scrabo sandstone, such as Newtownards Town Hall, Newtownards Model Primary and the Albert Clock in Belfast.
As stated, the quarries now lie abandoned but once upon a time they would have been filled with noise as rock was quarried from the side of the hill and carried away by a mini railway for use in Ireland, Great Britain and even North America. Now, they are a haven for wildlife such as ravens, woodpigeon, collared doves and jackdaws nesting on the rock ledges. If you are lucky you may even spot several of the birds of prey that nest here from time to time, such as Kestrels, Buzzards and Peregrine Falcons. The park is also a haven for other wildlife such as rabbits, badgers squirrels and foxes.
The cache is a small waterproof screw top container. It contains a log, pencil and a small swappable with room for a few small trackables. It is situated off a less well used track within the country park. The best way to get to it is to park at the Old Belfast Road, walk up the hill and take the first turn on the right (before you reach the crossroads). This track passes under one of the old railway bridges and will eventually lead you to a tranquil secluded viewing point.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Jnyx hcuvyy naq haqre gur oevqtr. Ng gur raq bs gur oevqtr, purpx gb lbhe evtug (nf lbh'er snpvat hcuvyy). Ernpu evtug va. (Znxr fher naq 'jrqtr' gur pbagnvare onpx va cynpr nsgrejneqf).