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Manganese (Mining Series) Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

JackieC: Retired. Cache removed this morning.

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Hidden : 4/29/2012
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

A series of caches place in Beecraigs Country Park for the 'Welcome to Geocaching' Event on Saturday 5th May 2012.
Please refrain from finding the cache until the event, thank you.




The series consists of traditional 8 caches, each will give you one half of the co-ordinates to a further 4 caches. Those 4 caches give the co-ords for 2 further caches, which in turn give you the co-ords for the final cache of the series.

The West Lothian area has been extensively mined for a variety of minerals and metals, so much that parts of the county appear to be hollow!


During the 19th Century the largest Manganese mine in Scotland was the Lecht mine The mine was first opened during the 1730’s when iron ore was exploited and carried on pack pony to be smelted in Nethy Bridge in Strathspey, but the operation lost money and the mine closed after a few years. However, during the 1840’s it was reopened again, this time to supply manganese - which was shipped from the Moray coast to Newcastle and used in the manufacture of household bleach. The mine developed to become the largest and most actively worked manganese mine in Scotland employing 63 men at its peak, until cheaper imported ore made the operation uneconomic and it closed down 1846.


Forestry work has been ongoing since the storms in January, and some areas are cordoned off.
Please respect the notices and do not enter areas which have been restricted.


Thanks to the Beecraigs Country Park Rangers for allowing these caches to be placed.



Mega Scotland 2014

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Onfr bs gerr. Cyrnfr pbire jryy.

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)