This multi-cache will take you on a short circuit through the village of Newbiggin, past St Helen's Well, to the old railway cutting, and back to the parking. Collect the info along the way, crunch the numbers and you will be able to find the cache. You will also need some info from two earlier caches. Refreshments can be found in the garden centre, but not on Tuesdays apparently. The circuit is only about a mile and won't take very long. Some muddy puddles may be encountered, so boots are a good idea.
The source of the Lune isn't really a fixed point - it depends on your definition! Wainwright goes for the springs of Dale Beck on the slopes of Green Bell, which is fine. However, the end of the waterway named the "Lune" is at St Helen's Well, or possibly just past it on the sides of the railway embankment, but the well sounds much better! The Well is a resurgence, or spring, and there was a chapel nearby at one time. Interestingly, the watershed is only about 400m east from the well over Chapel Rigg. Hag Mire is in the Eden Valley, not Lunesdale, it joins Scandale Beck which flows north through Smardale to join the Eden and heads for Carlisle. Newbiggin is, of course, on the Lune, but Ravenstonedale is in Eden. See also: GCWJ3R
The cache details:
Info point 1 - Near the first cache, how old was John Capstick? . .
Info point 2 - Near the 2nd cache, last 3 digits of the Post Box No. CA10 . . .
Now we're off walking the circuit shown above. Best place to park is at the co-ordinates at the top of the page, the P on the map. Take care crossing the road, spot the Lune at the side of the road!
Point 3 - What's the number of the water pumping station? . . . . .
Point 4 - Beyond the small beastie building, find a pair of green doors, how many people above the sheep? .
Point 5 - Onto the open area, last three digits of the Post Box No. CA17 . . .
Point 6 - When was the Public Hall built? . . . .
Head NE towards the main road, passing the Lune again, garden centre on the right, take care crossing the road, on the other side bear right up the lane. Over the wall on your left is St Helen's Well, the bubbling spring in the field. A short way on, turn left on the footpath into the field, head for the footbridge.
Point 7 - How many horizontal planks make up the surface of the bridge? . .
Point 8 - Over the bridge, through the stile, turn right, through the gate (mud!). Between this gate and the gate by the railway bridge, the track is bordered by an avenue of trees on the righthand side. Including one slightly set back, excluding the fallen tree, how many trees line the track? . .
Through the gate before the bridge, over the stile, up the steps onto the old railway track. It's now a nature reserve managed by Cumbria Wildlife Trust. It's a great walk E to the Smardalegill Viaduct, past the lime kilns, and with a good selection of paths for a return.
Point 9 - Turn W on the railway; at the end is a large sign with details of the reserve.
a) How many spots does the Scotch Argus have? . .
b) There has been a constant covering of trees since, what year? . . . .
Point 10 - Through the gates, left down the drive to the lodge. In the large main gate, how many short spears along the bottom? . .
That's all the info. Now work out the coordinates as shown below. To get back to your car either turn left, or go straight ahead on the footpath to Tranna Hill.
Sum all the info to produce a Grand Total . . . . .
For the last 5 digits of the Northings, add 4776 to the GT. N54 . . . . .
For the Westings, add 5883 to the GT. W002 . . . . .
